中国传统故事31TheSpearandtheShield自相矛盾

中国传统故事31：TheSpearandtheShield自相矛盾InonetowninoldChina,therelivedaproudmerchant.Heownedasmallstoreinthebusymarket.Ononesideofhisstorewerebeautiful,straightspears.Ontheotherside,werehard,strongshields.Atthistime,Chinawasoftenatwarwithitself.Themerchantknewsoldiersneededspearsforfightingandshieldsforprotectingthemselves.Themarketwasfilledwithshopsandshoppers.Therewererestaurants,fruitstands,clothingstores,andmore.Therewasevenanotherstorethatalsosoldspearsandshields.Theownerofthatstorewastheproudmerchant’srival.Everyweek,themerchantsoldafewspearsandafewshields.Buthewasnothappy.Alltheotherstoreswerebusierthanhisstore.Evenworse,hisrival’sstorehadmorecustomers.Themerchantthoughtlongandhardabouthowtogetmorecustomerstohisstore.Likeasoldier,themerchantknewhehadtobestrongerthanhisrival.Hestaredathisspearsandshields,thinking.Suddenly,hehadanidea.Hepickedupaspearandashieldandmarchedoutintothestreet.Heheldupthespearanddancedaround.“Lookatthisspear!”heyelled.“MyspearisthebestinChina!Itismadefromthebestwoodintheworld!Themetalissostrongthatitcanpierceanything!”Acrowdsoongatheredaroundhim.Evenhisrivalcameovertoseewhatwashappening.“Lookatthisshield!”theproudmerchantcontinued.Heliftedituptocatchthesunlight.“MyshieldisthebestinChina!Itismadefromthestrongestmetalintheworld!Itissosolidthatnothingcanpierceit!”Thecrowdgrewbigger.“Ooh!Aah!”theysaid,admiringthemerchant’sspearandshield.Themerchant’srivalwalkeduptohim.“Yousaythatyourspearcanpierceanything,andthatnothingcanpierceyourshield,”saidhisrival.“Thatiscorrect,”repliedthemerchantconfidently.“WhatwillhappenifIstabyourshieldwithyourspear?”askedhisrival.Thequestionsurprisedthemerchant.Hestoppeddancing.Heloweredhisspear.Heloweredhisshield.Heknewthattheclaimswereuntrue.Therecouldnotbebothaspearthatcanpierceanythingandashieldthatcannotbepiercedbyanything.Themerchantdidn’tknowwhattosay.So,hehunghisheadinshame,closedhisstore,andwenthome.TheEndQuestion:Whydidthemerchantlieabouthisspearsandshields?核心词汇merchantn.商人spearn.矛shieldn.盾standn.摊rivaln.对手customern.顾客marchv.（快步）行走piercev.刺穿，刺破crowdn.人群solidadj.坚固的admirev.钦佩stabv.刺，戳claimn.声称，断言在旧中国的一个城镇里，住着一位骄傲的商人。他在繁忙的市场上开了一家小店。在他的商店的一边是漂亮的直矛。另一边是坚固的盾牌。在这个时候，中国经常与自己交战。商人知道士兵们需要长矛作战，需要盾牌保护自己。市场上挤满了商店和购物者。那里有餐馆、水果摊、服装店等等。甚至还有另外一家商店也出售长矛和盾牌。那家商店的老板是骄傲商人的对手。每个星期，商人都会卖几支矛和几块盾牌。但他并不快乐。其他所有的商店都比他的商店忙。更糟糕的是，他的竞争对手的商店有更多的顾客。这位商人花了很长时间和精力思考如何让更多的顾客进入他的商店。就像一名士兵一样，他知道他必须比他的对手更强大。他盯着自己的矛和盾思考。突然，他有了一个主意。他拿起长矛和盾牌，大步走到街上。他举起长矛，跳起舞来。“看这把矛！”他喊道。“我的矛是中国最好的！它是用世界上最好的木材制成的！这种金属非常坚固，可以穿透任何东西！”人群很快聚集在他周围。甚至他的对手也过来看看发生了什么。“看这个盾牌！”骄傲的商人继续说。他把它举起来晒太阳。“我的盾是中国最好的！它是由世界上最坚固的金属制成的！它是如此坚固，没有任何东西能穿透它！”人群越来越大。“哦！啊！”他们说，欣赏着商人的矛和盾。商人的对手向他走来。他的对手说：“你说你的矛可以刺穿任何东西，任何东西都不能刺穿你的盾牌。”。“没错，”商人自信地回答。“如果我用你的长矛刺穿你的盾牌会怎么样？”他的对手问道。这个问题使商人大吃一惊。他停止了跳舞。他放下长矛。他放下盾牌。他知道这些说法是不真实的。不可能既有能刺穿任何东西的矛，也有不能被任何东西刺穿的盾。商人不知道该说什么。于是，他羞愧地低下头，关了店，回家了。24、Goodorbad？塞翁失马焉知非福24.Goodorbad？塞翁失马焉知非福,英语口语,5分钟Longago,anoldmanandhissonlivedinafarawaytownneartheChineseborder.Theyfarmedthelandandlivedamostlypeacefullife.Onenight,therewasaterriblestorm.Windlashedthetrees.Anoldelmcrashedintothebarndoor.Thefrightenedhorseranoutofthebarn,headingtowardthehills.Theoldmanandhissonlookedalloverforthehorse.Theywalkedthroughthedarkfields,holdingtorches.Theycalledtothehorseandscatteredsweethay.Still,theycouldnotfindhim.Theentiretimetheoldmankeptsaying,“Perhapslosingourhorseisn’tsuchabadthing.”Hissonkeptquiet.Hedidn’tunderstandhisfather.Theyaskedeveryoneaboutthemissinghorse.Thetownspeopleansweredpolitely,sayingthattheyhadn’tseenthehorse,butwouldlookoutforhim.Theyallpitiedtheoldmanandhisson.“Itmustbeterribletolosesuchabeautifulanimal,”theysaid.Buttheoldmaninsistedthatlosingthehorsemightnotbeabadthing.Thetownspeoplegrewquiet.Theydidn’tunderstandtheoldman.Indeed,itturnedouttonotbesuchabadthing.Thehorsereturnedthenextday,bringingwithitabeautifulfemalehorse.Thetownspeoplecongratulatedtheoldman,tellinghimthathehadgoodluck.Theoldman,however,responded,“Perhapsmyhorsereturningisnotsuchagoodthingafterall.”Thetownspeoplegrewquiet.Theydidn’tunderstandtheoldman.Asthedayspassed,theoldman’ssoncametolovethenewhorse.Herodeiteveryday.Whentheyraced,theyflowedlikethewindoverthegrass.Butoneday,astheoldman’ssonwasridingthehorse,alargebirdsuddenlyflewinfrontofthem.Theterrifiedhorsestoodupontwolegs,pawingtheair.Theoldman’ssonreachedforhishorse’smanebutgrabbedonlyair.Heflewoffthehorse’sback.Heslammedintothehardground.Hislegbroke.Theoldmanrantohissonandcarriedhimbacktothehouse.Thetownspeopleexpressedtheirsympathytotheoldman.Theywereallverysorry.Hissonwouldneverbeabletowalkwithoutpainagain.Yetunlikethetownspeople,theoldmansaid,“Maybethisisnotsuchabadthingafterall.”Thetownspeoplegrewquiet.Theydidn’tunderstandtheoldman.Afewmonthslater,theEmperorofChinapassedthroughthetownwithhissoldiers.Therewasawarragingneartheborder.Alltheablebodiedyoungmenhadtojointhearmy.WhattheEmperordidn’tsaywasthatmostoftheyoungmenwoulddieinthefight.However,becausetheoldman’ssonwashandicapped,hecouldnotfight.Hedidn’thavetojointhearmy.Instead,hestayedhome.Hehelpedtendcropsonthefamilyfarm.“See?”theoldmansaidtothetownspeople.“Itallworkedoutintheend.Myhorserunningawaybroughtbackthesecondhorse.Andthatsecondhorsestoppedmysonfromgoingofftohisdeath.So,intheend,itwasgoodandluckythatthesethingshappened.”Thetownspeoplecheeredtheoldman’swisdom.Atlast,theyunderstoodhim.Themoralofthisstoryisthateventheworstthingscanhavepositiveeffects.ThereisasimilaridiominEnglish.Itis“Everycloudhasasilverlining.”TheEndQuestion:Describeatimewhensomethingthatseemedbadactuallyhelpedyouout.核心词汇bordern.边境lashv.（风、雨）猛烈打击elmn.榆木barnn.谷仓scatterv.分散hayn.（作饲料用的）干草entireadj.整个的，全部的insistv.坚持femaleadj.女性的，母的terrifyv.使害怕pawv.用爪子抓（或扒）manen.（马）鬃，（狮）鬣grabv.抓取，攫取slamv.砰地关上（门或窗）able-bodiedadj.体格健全的，强壮的ragev.（战争）激烈进行handicappedadj.残疾的tendv.照料，照顾cropn.谷物wisdomn.智慧moraln.寓意idiomn.习语图片以下翻译来自百度翻译：很久以前，一位老人和他的儿子住在中国边境附近的一个遥远的小镇上。他们耕种土地，过着平静的生活。一天晚上，有一场可怕的暴风雨。风猛烈地吹着树。一棵老榆树撞上了谷仓的门。那匹受惊的马跑出谷仓，向山上跑去。老人和他的儿子到处寻找那匹马。他们手持火把穿过黑暗的田野。他们把马叫来，撒下甘美的干草。但是，他们还是找不到他。老人一直在说，“也许失去我们的马不是件坏事。”他的儿子保持沉默。他不理解他的父亲。他们向大家打听那匹失踪的马。镇上的人礼貌地回答说，他们没有看到那匹马，但会注意他的。他们都同情老人和他的儿子。“失去这么漂亮的动物一定很可怕，”他们说。但是老人坚持说，失去这匹马可能不是一件坏事。镇上的人都安静下来了。他们不理解这位老人。事实证明，这并不是一件坏事。第二天，这匹马回来了，带来了一匹漂亮的母马。镇上的人向老人祝贺，说他运气好。然而，老人回答说：“也许我的马回来并不是一件好事。”镇上的人都安静了下来。他们不理解这位老人。日子一天天过去，老人的儿子爱上了这匹新马。他每天都骑着它。当他们比赛时，他们像风一样在草地上飞舞。但是有一天，当老人的儿子骑马时，一只大鸟突然飞到他们面前。那匹受惊的马两条腿走路站起来，用爪子抓着空气。老人的儿子伸手去抓马的鬃毛，但只抓住了空气。他从马背上飞走了。他砰地一声撞在坚硬的地面上。他的腿断了。老人跑向他的儿子，把他带回了家。镇上的人对这位老人表示同情。他们都很抱歉。他的儿子再也不能不痛地走路了。然而，与城里人不同的是，老人说：“也许这毕竟不是件坏事。”城里人变得安静了。他们不理解这位老人。几个月后，中国皇帝带着他的士兵穿过了这个城镇。边境附近爆发了一场战争。所有有能力的体格健壮的年轻人不得不参军。皇帝没有说的是，大多数年轻人都会在战斗中死去。然而，由于老人的儿子是残疾人，他不能战斗。他不必参军。相反，他呆在家里。他帮助照料家庭农场的庄稼。“看到了吗？”老人对镇上的人说。“最后一切都解决了。我跑开的马带回了第二匹马。第二匹马阻止了我儿子的死亡。因此，最终，这些事情发生了，真是幸运。”镇上的人们为老人的智慧欢呼。他们终于明白了他的意思。这个故事的寓意是，即使是最糟糕的事情也会产生积极的影响。英语中有一个类似的成语。这是“每一朵云都有一线希望。”25、Frog'sTastyWorld井底之蛙25.Frog'sTastyWorld井底之蛙,英语口语,4分钟Onceuponatime,therelivedasmallfrogatthebottomofawell.Thisfroghadlivedinthewellhiswholelife.Everydaywasthesame.Hewouldwakeupandeatafewoftheblackbugsflyingaroundinthewell.Whatadeliciousbreakfast!Thenhewouldplayalittleinthewater,splashingandsinging,“ribbit,ribbit!”Whenhegothungry,itwatimeforlunch.Again,hewouldeatsomeoftheblackfliesinthewell.Theywerealwaysasyummyasthebreakfastbugs!Then,hewouldtakealittleafternoonnap,lyinginthewarmsunlightshiningfromabove.Whenhewokeupfromhisnap,hewouldeatdinner.Guesswhatheate?Yes!Bugs!Finally,afterdinner,hewouldstarethroughtheopeningofthewellandwatchthestarsbeforegoingtosleep.Hecalledthestars“fireflies.”Theylookedtasty!Everydaywouldpassinthesameway.Hewasverycontentwithhislife.Tohim,everythingwasperfectinhislittlewell.Onedayafterlunch,ashewassettlingdownforhisnap,abluebirdappearedatthemouthofthewell.“HelloMr.Bird!”shoutedthefrog.“Howareyou?Pleasejoinmedownhereinmyhouse!It’sperfecthere!It’sthebestlifeanyonecouldhave.It’scozy,andIhaveplentytoeat.AtnightIcanseethefireflies,andsometimesIevenseetheshiningcaterpillar.”“Thefirefliesandtheshiningcaterpillar?”saidthebluebird.“Doyoumeanthestarsandthemoon?Mr.Frog,howaboutIshowyoutheoutsideworld?”askedthebird.“No,thankyou,”saidthefrog.“Idon’tneedanythingbesidesmyperfectlittlewell.Nothingouttherecancomparetohere.Anyway,howmuchistheretosee?Itisallhereandinthelittlebluecircleatthetopofmywell.Thecircleturnsblackatnight.Thenthefirefliesandtheshiningcaterpillarcomeout.Atthispoint,thebirddecidedtotakeaction.Heswoopedintothewellandgrabbedthefrog.“Hey!Putmedown!”thefrogprotested.Hestruggledagainstthebluebird’sgrip.Thebirdliftedhimupward.Suddenlythefrogsawaflashofgreenandthenablurofyellow.Hestoppedsquirmingandgrewbigeyed.Whathesawwasunlikeanythinghehadeverseenbefore.Riversandmountainsandlakesandfields!Hesawhundredsoftreesandthousandsofflowers.Hesawmillionsofbugs!Beetlesandbees!Butterfliesanddragonflies!Theworldlookeddelicious!“Whoknewtheworldwasthisbig!”heexclaimed.“Thankyou,Mr.Bird,forshowingmethisbeautifulplace!”Afterseeingtheoutsideworld,thefrogneverwentbacktohiswellagain.Helivedinapondringedwithflowersandbuzzingwithbugs!Beforehemetthebluebird,thefrog’sworldwasverysmall.Hewassurethatnothingcouldbebetterthanthewell.Ifthebirdhadnotflownhimtotheoutsideworld,thefrogwouldhaveneveropenedhismindtolife’spossibilities.Andhewouldhaveneveropenedhismouthtothepossibilitiesofbees,butterflies,beetles,anddragonflies!TheEndQuestion:Whatwasthefrog’slifelikebeforeheleftthewell?A.Hislifewasveryroutine.Everydaywasthesame.B.Helivedinthedarkandlovedfireflies.C.Hislifewasverytiringbecauseheswamallthetime.D.Hetr