A Letter To My Baby

A Letter To My Baby

Dear Baby, it's time for you to go to the kindergarten. You can have many cute friends there. Your aunts will be friendly to you. They will teach you how to sing and dance. You and the other little friends will play so many games. The aunts will give you candies and big red flowers. Mummy and daddy will love you more because you go to kindergarten now. You are so good now, my dear baby!

The Crow And The Fox

A crow stole a piece of meat and sat in the tree. Then, a fox was coming. He wanted to eat the meat very much.

But, how? The fox thought for a minute and found a way. He stood under the tree and began to lick the crow’s boots. The fox said that she was so beautiful and cute, and if she could sing a song that would be perfect. The crow felt so good and began to sing. At the moment the crow’s mouth opened, the meat fell down to the ground and the fox got the meat.

The Raven and The Fox

One day, a big raven found a cheese. Then she flew up into the tree. A fox came by and saw the cheeses as well and wanted to eat.

He said to the raven,“You look very beautiful. If you can sing nicely as well,I think you can become queen to all the birds.”The raven was very pleased. She liked to be called a queen.“Yes, I can sing.” She said.

But as she said this, the cheese fell down to the ground from her beak. The fox picked up the cheese which was on the land and run away.

If You Are Happy 听歌请点我

If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you are happy and you know it and you really want to show it, if you are happy, and you know it , clap your hands.

If you are sad and you know it, go boo-hoo. If you are sad and you know it, go boo-hoo. If you are sad and you know it and you really want to show it, if you are sad and you know it, go boo-hoo.

If you are angry and you know it, stamp your feet. If you are angry and you know it, stamp your feet. If you are angry and you know it and you really want to show it, if you are angry and you know it, stamp your feet.

If you are sleepy and you know it, go to bed. If you are sleepy and you know it, go to bed. If you are sleepy and you know it and you really want to show it, if you are sleepy and you know it, go to bed.

My First Day In New Term

Today is September the first, the first day of my new school term.

When I was back to my primary school, I was arranged to class 1 grade 3, there I met a lot of my old friends. I was so happy to see them again. And I also met so many new faces, but we were too timid to talk to each other. The new teachers gave us new books and introduced us to each other.

Oh, the new day, the new term, the new teachers, the new friends and the new books, everything is new to me. I think it must be a brand-new beginning.

A Seed

The little fox was playing on the hillside, suddenly he saw a seed.

The little fox put the seed on the nose, not falling for a long time. After a while, he was tired. He dug a pit to bury the seed. He intended to play it a few days later. However several days later, when he came back, he was surprised to find a small pit covered with beautiful flowers.

“How can this happened? ” He cried.

The flowers laughed and said,“I’m the seed you previously buried in the soil, I have grown into flowers.”

The little fox watched the flowers, full of pleasure.

Waiting For Gains Without Pains

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who was tired .He decided to have a rest. Suddenly he saw a rabbit running in a hurry, and bumped himself against a tree stump and died immediately.

The famer picked up the dead rabbit, feeling so happy. He took the rabbit home and his wife cooked it for him.

He thought he needn’t work so hard if he could get a dead rabbit every day.

From then on, the famer threw away his hoe. He went to the tree stump, and began to wait for the next dead rabbit every day.

Friends

The thin tall man and the fat short man are good friends.

One day, they went hiking. Suddenly, they saw a big bear following behind them.

The tall man quickly climbed up a tree. The short man couldn’t climb the tree, he had to pretend to be dead. At last, the bear went away.

“What did the bear tell you?” The tall man asked.

“Are you a real friend?”The short man answered.

Play The Lute Before A Cow

Once upon a time, there was a musician by the name of Gongming Yi, who was good at playing the lute, but often did foolish things.

When he saw a cow grazing in the field while he was roaming in the suburb one day, he hit upon the idea of playing the lute for it. He fetched the lute from his home and played his favorite tune for it. The tune was so sweet that he was intoxicated in it. However he cow did nothing but grazing in the field and went away by wagging its tail.

Gongming Yi was greatly disappointed. A farmer by his side told him that the cow was unable to appreciate the elegant music.

Su Wu Tended The Sheep

In the West Han Dynasty, Su Wu was dispatched on a mission to the Huns.

But Huns detained Su Wu and imprisoned him in a cell, without providing food or drink. However, Su Wu refused to surrender. The Chan Yu(the sovereign of the Huns) was so angry with Su Wu’s obstinacy that he send him to tend the sheep in the North Sea and said that he would release him if only the male sheep gave birth to a lamb.

Staying by himself for nineteen years, Su Wu kept company with the sheep, drinking the snow water when he was thirsty and eating the grassroots when he was hungry.

When the relationship of the Huns and the West Han went smoothly, the white-haired Su Wu returned to the capital Chang’an and was warmly welcomed by the people of the whole city for his moral integrity.

Bird That Startled At

The Mere Twang Of A Bowstring

During the Spring and Autumn period, the king of the state of Wei went for a walk with the warrior Geng Lei. Suddenly they saw a bird flying across the sky.

Geng said, “The bird will drop down from the sky if I draw the bow only without shooting an arrow. ”

The king just couldn’t believe it. Geng took out his bow and made a draw. Hearing the twang of the bowstring, the bird suddenly dropped down just like a stone.

“How can this happened? ”，the king asked.

Geng laughed and said, “Just look at the bird, it flew so slowly and wailed so sadly, I thought it must be wounded. When the bird heard the sound of the bow and thought it must be another arrow and tried to escape, and its wound was torn open.”

Hou Yi Shot Down The Suns

A long long time ago, there were ten suns in the sky. They scorched the woods, the grass and the crops on the earth. People lived a very very difficult life.

The human disasters stirred God in heaven, who send the good shooter Hou Yi to the earth.

Hou Yi took out his red bow and began to shoot white arrows to the suns. Soon nine suns were shot down.

And then the King Yao came, the first king of ancient China, who said that at least one sun should be saved.

Hou Yi thought what he said was reasonable and stopped shooting.

From then on, there was only one sun in the sky and the people on the earth began to live a happy and peaceful life.

Chang’e Flew To The Moon

After shooting down nine suns, Hou Yi and his beautiful wife Chang’e decided to stay on the earth to lead a lovely and peaceful life. One year past, Chang’e was fed up with the simple life and always thought of the happy life in heaven.

One day, when Hou Yi went hunting, Chang’e swallowed a pill, which was given by the Emperor in heaven before her leave, who told her to use it if she wanted to come back. Soon she was in the air and began to fly and fly with no stop until she arrived at the moon.

But soon she found she made a mistake. It was so lonely there, no flowers, no grass, no laughter, no melodies. It’s cold and silent here there and everywhere. She thought of the beautiful old days with her husband and the kind-hearted people.

But everything was too late! She could never go back to the earth.

The Foolish Old Man

Removed The Mountains

Long ago, a foolish old man and his family lived to the north of two big mountains. As the mountains blocked the way, it was hard to go in and out. The old man decided to remove them. He and his family began to work the next day.

A wise old man passed by and derided the foolish old man, saying it was an impossible job because he was already 90 years old.

The foolish old man laughed and said, “I’m old, I know, but I have sons, and my sons will have sons, their sons will still have their sons, so there will be endless offspring. But the mountains will never grow. So sooner or later, the mountains will be removed. ”

On hearing the story, the Heavenly Emperor was really moved. He send two giants to carry away the mountains. From then on, there were no mountains in front of the door of the foolish old man.

Helping The Seedings

By Pulling Them

In ancient times, there was an impatient farmer in the State of Song. He went to the field to see if the seeds had grown higher or not all the time. But to his disappointment, he found that the seeds grew too slowly.

One day, it was very hot. He hit upon a capital idea. Immediately He began to pull the seedlings one by one. He worked from morning to sunset.

In the evening he returned to his house with numb legs. He only told his son that all the seedlings had grown quite a bit but he said nothing about what he had done.

His son was deeply puzzled.

The next morning his son got up earlier than he used to and went to the field to see what had happened. Oops, my God! All the seedlings were dead! He was so astonished that his eyes stared woodenly and his jaw hung!

Pigsy Stole The Watermelon

When Monk Xuanzang and his disciples on their journey to the west for sutras. Pigsy was so lazy that he let Monkey to seek for food and he himself took a rest under a tree. All of sudden he saw a watermelon beside the tree.

Pigsy cut the watermelon in four portions, one for himself and the other three for Monk Xuanzang, Monkey King and Sand. However, he was so greedy that he ate all the other three portions.

At the sight of Pigsy eating the watermelon, Monkey King made some noises in the cloud. On seeing the Monkey King was back, he threw away the melon-skins at once. Monkey managed to put the melon-skins on the way. Pigsy slipped four times by stepping on them.

Seeing Pigsy was all bruises, Monk Xuanzang asked Pigsy what had happened. Pigsy hummed that he should not have eaten the whole watermelon by himself and was tricked by Monkey. Sand cold not help laughing at his words.

Hesitate To Throw At A Rat

For Fear Of Smashing The Articles Beside It

When a rat climbed up a cabinet listed with precious porcelains and antiques, trying to steal some food, he boy in the house picked up a stone silently and deliberately.

What was he going to do? Oops, my God! He was about to throw at the rat!

Just then, His father happened to come back. He stopped the boy at once.

The boy asked his father,“Why don’t you allow me to throw at the vile rat?”

His father said，“The rat was hiding beside the porcelains and antiques. Do you know what will happen if you miss your target?”

The boy got the idea at once. Without saying a word, He made a face to his father and ran away immediately.

Pan Gu Divides

The Sky And The Earth

At the beginning, the sky and the earth existed as a whole, just like a big egg. There was a giant named Pan Gu who slept in it. When he woke up, he could see nothing at all. He waved his axe with a strike to divide the sky and the earth.

For fear that they would close again, he just hold the sky by his arms with his feet on the earth. He grew ten feet every day, the sky and the earth was set apart slowly day by day.

Eighteen thousand years past, Pan Gu thought that the sky and the earth would never meet again and at the same time he was so tired . After giving his last push, he collapsed and died in smiles.

After Pan Gu’s death, his breath became wind and cloud, his noise became the thunder, his eyes became the sun and the moon, his hair and mustache became stars, and his body turned into mountains, rivers, roads, fields, grass and woods. In this way, a colorful world came into being.

Worried The Sky Might Collapse?

Once upon a time, there was a man in the State of Qi who always worried the sky might collapse. The more he thought, the more he was in terror.

One day he told his thought to his friend. After hearing his story, his friend laughed and said,“There was only air in the sky. Then how can it Collapse?”

He shook his head, just couldn’t believe it.

A few days later, he began to worry that the sun, the moon and the stars might fall down one day. He couldn’t believe in the other people when they told him he needn’t worry about them. And still several days later, he began to worry about some other trifles. He worried about different things each day.

He led a terrible life! No laughters, no flowers, no music, but only worries.

What a miserable man!

Meng's Mother Moved Thrice

Master Mencius was a great scholar in the Warring States Period. When he was young, he and his mother lived near a graveyard, where he used to play the game of burial with his pals. His mother was deeply worried abut that and decided to move.

The new place was in a downtown district. But Meng’s mother still found it wasn’t the right place for him. Too much noise came to their ears, such as the crying of pigs being killed, the crying of the peddlers, etc. Therefore she decided to move again.

This time they moved to a house near a school, with good surrounding of reading and writing. Meng could see the pupils reading books in the classroom. Meng’s mother was so pleased.

Meng began to learn knowledge and he always made rapid progress. Several years later, Meng became a respectable scholar. And the story of thrice moves of Memg’s mother came down till now.

Goddess Nuwa Mending The Sky

In the legend, Nuva was the Godness who had woman head and snake body. She lived happily in this beautiful world. For one moment she might fly to snow-capped mountain, and the other moment she might descend herself to a cool valley.

One year, the god of fire and the god of water came into war. Soon the god of water was defeated and a pillar that supported the sky and the earth was knocked down. A huge hole appeared in the sky. Rain began to pour down from the hole. Soon the whole earth was in flood and many people were swallowed by the deluge.

Startled by the wails of the human being, Nuwa determined to help the mankind. With an axe on her shoulder, she collected scarlet stones and white jade and then threw them into a furnace. After 81 days, the colored stone were melted into magma. Nuwa began to use the magma to mend the sky. She caught a huge turtle and cut down its four legs to hold up the four corners between the sky and the earth.

It was quite a long time! The sky was mended and the flood disappeared. When people began to say thanks to her, she felt so exhausted. She collapsed to the ground and never stood up again.

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know

His house is in the village though;

he will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

备注：Queer古怪的，可疑的 frozen冷冻的 harness n马具；v治理

downy绒毛的，多丘的 flake小而轻的薄片

Importance Of Confidence

Whatever one does, one should do it with confidence. If one has no confidence, there is little possibility that one can achieve anything when faced with hardships. This truth seems to be self-evident.

In reality, however, we do see a lot of people who always complain that they lack the ability to do something or that their difficulties are too great to overcome. For some, this might be true. But for many others, this shows that they have lost heart.

Why do some people often feel frustrated even though they are capable of doing something? I think there are two main reasons. In the first place, these people don’t have a correct estimate of themselves. Secondly, there is another possibility that they exaggerate the difficulties.

In my opinion, one should build up faith in oneself as long as he has a right attitude towards his own abilities. We should neither underestimate nor overestimate our abilities. As a proverb says, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” With confidence we can certainly cope with any task we are faced with.

Learning

Foreign Language

I love learning foreign languages. Especially English because English is the most widely spoken language in the world, it is used by countries all over the world.

For example, if you want to find a nice job, you probably need to be good at English, and when you surf on the Internet, you’ll see many dialogues and keywords in English.

If you don’t know them, then you’ll have to spend a lot of time looking them up in an English dictionary. Therefore we must try harder to learn English and improve our English, and we could learn more besides.

Now, I’m a junior high student, I try to read magazine articles in English everyday.

In fact, learning English is lots of fun. It’s rather like learning Chinese. Just open your mouth and say something in English or read lots of articles.

All in all, it’s useful for everyone to learn English.

Teamwork

Is Very Important

I am not fond of basketball, let alone to play it. But I have seen a wonderful basketball game between my class and the other class. It is so wonderful that I can't help asking myself "is it real". The answer is pretty Yes. I also learn a lot from the game.

First, teamwork is very important. You are sure to fail if you play by yourself. So five members must play together and be well organized.

Second, you should have an aim. In order to reach it, you should try your best.

Last, never give up whatever has happened. Even if you get low scores, you shouldn't give up. If there is a will, there is a way. If there is a will, there is also an opportunity. And you can make failure into success.

Believe yourself and believe your team. You are the best one.

Interest Is The Best Teacher

I was not able to get high marks when I was in primary school. Teachers didn't like me because I was not a good student. Mother considered me as a bad kid.

They hurt me by thinking I am a retarded child. But I am no fool. Almost all of my paintings were showed in public. Many famous artists had praised me for my paintings. They called me "little prodigy". And dad was on my side too. He encouraged me to do what I liked and what I thought was proper.

He told me that interest is the best teacher. Dad did what he could to develop my talent fully. I believe that interest together with hard work will make me a successful artist in the near future.

Power Of Diligence

More and more students nowadays attach no importance to diligence. However, diligence is one of the most essential qualities leading to success. It can be easy yet have powerful effects on your study.

Working hard will give your teachers a good impression and they are more willing to offer help when necessary. We all know that a good student is often judged by his attitude! Always be patient when facing some difficult problems and show your perseverance through the way you learn. The more help you get from teachers, the faster you will move towards your goal.

Although some others around ignore the importance of working hard, don’t follow them. We students should form good habits and behavior in study. First, set goals and make plans properly. Then both at school and at home, spare no efforts to study.

Never give up trying when you feel a little tired. You will make further progress if you keep advancing towards your goals. Remember, being diligent costs nothing but it's worth of million dollars.

Earthquake

Earthquakes may take place anywhere on the earth's surface. During all earthquakes, the vibrations make the earth's surface tremble, and even crack open. Houses fall, people are buried or injured and sometimes whole cities are destroyed.

Can we do something to protect ourselves against earthquakes? Can we take precautionary measures?

We can.

Scientists have made investigation on earthquakes. They have made maps showing the "earthquake belts". In areas along these belts, earthquakes are likely to occur. In these areas we can build special houses to resist earthquake shocks and protect ourselves.

In the future, scientists will be able to predict exactly when and where earthquakes will take place. Then they will be able to tell people to take precautionary measures. Thus lives can be saved and damage can be lessened.

My Favorite Teacher

Echo, my favorite teacher, is a pretty and slim lady. One of the most important reasons that I like her is that she is very sincere. When she talks to others, she always has a smile on her face.

I think Echo is an excellent teacher because she has a lot of good methods on teaching. She is not only quite friendly, but also humorous. Her class is full of fun that you will never feel bored. To improve our grades, she usually gives us some advices about how to learn English well. What's more, she sacrificed her own time to help every student. Sometimes, she nearly has no time to have lunch. When I ask her questions, she must spare no effort to make me understand, with patience and care. I have never seen such a good teacher as her before.

A good teacher can point out the direction and give you endless strength when you get into trouble. I'm lucky enough to have such a good teacher present to my life. Echo has a great influence on me. I'm thankful to her help very much.

Time Doesn’t

Definitely Mean Money

As a popular saying goes, "Time is money." But does time definitely mean money? I don’t think so.

First of all, time is more precious than money. When money is spent, you can earn it back if you want to. However, when time is gone, it will never come back. To some extent, time is priceless.

Second, not all time can be turned into money in the end. Some persons are idling all the time. Their time is just for wasting, not for earning money. They will end in nothing at last. So be sure to remember that time can be turned into money only with hard work involved in it.

Spring Festival

I think Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. It's a beginning that is new and full of luck for Chinese.

A few days before the Spring Festival, people will clean their house and do some shopping. They’re busy days for adults because of much house’s work. But children always look forward to the coming of those days, which is due to buying much delicious food and many beautiful clothes.

In the New Year’s Eve, children will have their bodies cleaned and dress nice clothes early. Adults always give more lucky money to the good children.

In the evening, all the members of family will sit around the table and have a big meal. After the dinner, many families will watch TV together and enjoy the Party of Spring Festival on CCTV. At twelve o’clock, they will count seconds, “three, two, one !” and say “Happy New Year” to each other. In the countries, some people will set off fireworks to celebrate the New Year.

The next morning, adults will visit their friends and relatives with their children. It’s a good job for children because they can get more lucky money.

A Shining Star

A good teacher is like a shining star to students. Miss Li, my senior high school English teacher, is a shining star in my life.

When I began my senior high school years, I had difficulty in learning English. I dared not speak English aloud in public because of my poor pronunciation and intonation. I could not get high marks and my grammar was not right at all. Frustrated and afraid of being laughed at, I never put up my hand to answer questions in English class.

When Miss Li found out my situation, she encouraged me and lent me a hand. She patiently taught me English grammar, helped me understand how to write a good sentence, and lent me many English books and magazines, which rapidly improved my English. With her help, I became interested in English and eventually got high marks.

Miss Li, like a shining star, shines in my path of success

Interesting Experience

We had some American exchange students in our school last week. I’d like to share some happy experiences with you.

Upon their arrival, we gave the American students a warm welcome, among whom a boy named Tim was to stay with my family for the weekend. While they were introducing themselves, I already recognized him by comparing him with the photo he had sent to me. When school was over, we took the subway home where my parents had already prepared a rich family dinner for Tim. We enjoyed ourselves a lot, eating and chatting about whatever subjects that interested us. The next day, I acted as a guide, showing Tim around the most famous scenic spots in Beijing, such as the Great Wall and the Bird’s Nest. Wherever he went, he had some photos taken to help him memorize this unforgettable trip to China. When finally the time came for us to say good-bye, I gave Tim a kite as a souvenir.

I think this activity has benefited me a lot. It was a perfect chance for me both to practice my oral English and to learn more about America.

Mania 看视频请点击我

Let’s talk about manias. Let’s start with Beatle mania: hysterical teenagers, crying, ing, pandemonium. Sports manias: deafening crowds, all for one idea--get the ball in the net. Okay, religious mania: there’s rapture, there’s weeping, there’s visions. Manias can be good, manias can be alarming, or manias can be deadly. The world has a new mania, a mania for learning English. Listen as Chinese students practice their English by screaming it.

T: I will change my life!

S: I will change my life!

T: I don’t want to let my parents down!

S: I don’t want to let my parents down!

T: I don’t ever want to let my country down!

S: I don’t ever want to let my country down!

T: Most importantly…

S: Most importantly…

T: I don’t want to let myself down!

S: I don’t want to let myself down!

How many people are trying to learn English worldwide? Tow billion of them. In Latin America, in India, in Southeast Asia, and most of all, in China. If you are a Chinese student, you start learning English in the third grade, by law. That’s why this year China will became the world’s largest English-speaking country. Why English? In a single word: Opportunity. Opportunity for a better life, a job, to be able to pay for school, or put better food on the table. Imagine a student taking a giant test for three full days. Her score on this one test literally determines her future. She studies 12 hours a day for three years to prepare,25 percent of her grade is based on English. It’s called the Gaokao, and 80 million high school Chinese students have already taken this grueling test. The intensity to learn English is almost unimaginable, unless you witness it.

T: Perfect!

S: Perfect!

T: I want to speak perfect English.

S: I want to speak perfect English.

T: I want to change my life!

S: I want to change my life!

So is English mania good or bad? Is English a tsunami, washing away other languages? Not likely. English is the world’s second language. You native language is your life. But with English you can become part of a wider conversation: a global conversation about global problems, like climate change or poverty, or hunger or disease. The world has other universal languages. Mathematics is the language of science, music is the language of emotions, and now English is becoming the language of problem-solving. Not because America is pushing it, but because the world is pulling it. So English mania is a turning point, like the harnessing of electricity in our cities or the fall of the Berlin Wall. English represents hope for better future--a future where the world has a common language to solve its common problems.

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Pandemonium大混乱，大混乱的场面 rapture极度欢喜 Weeping流泪, 悲哀 vision视觉，幻觉alarming 使人惊慌的，告急的 base基础 deadly致命的 practice练习

billion 十亿 Latin拉丁 India印度 Imagine 想象 literally照字面的,确实的prepare准备percent百分之 grueling紧张的,激烈的,累人的intensity强度unimaginable不能想象的witness亲眼看见tsunami海啸 language语言native本土/国的 conversation会话 global全球的 climate气候 change变化 poverty贫穷 hunger饥饿 disease疾病 universal世界性的 Mathematics数学emotion情感 solve解决 electricity电 repesent代表 common普遍的，共同的

Be Yourself

In every school a “top” crowd sets the pace, while the others follow their lead. Let’s say the top crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters. Pretty soon everybody is wearing a bright red sweater. There is nothing wrong with that, except the fact that on some people a bright red sweater is extremely unbecoming. The situation can even become dangerous, if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink or to drive cars at seventy miles an hour. Then the people who follow the lead are endangering their lives.

Now, chances are that you have come across situations like these more than once in your life; chances are that one time or another you probably did something you knew to be wrong. You may have excused yourself by saying, “Gee, the crowd does it.” Well, let the crowd do it, but don’t do it yourself. Learn to say, “No.”

Develop your own standards and your own judgment. If you know the crowd is planning something you disagree with, have the courage to bow out politely. You’ll have the satisfaction of standing on your own two feet. Remember this in your heart, you are the unique one in the world, just be yourself.

Eyes of Love

One day, a little girl was having a good time with her grandmother at the zoo. The girl had many bright red freckles on her face.

They came to an artist who was painting tiger paws on children’s cheeks. The girl was very interested. She stood in line to wait her turn.

“You got so many freckles. There’s no place to paint!” A boy in the line said to her.

This hurt the girl’s feeling. She dropped her head. Her grandmother knelt next to her. “I love your freckles!” She said.

“Not me!” The girl said.

“Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles.” She said as she moved her finger across the girl’s cheek. “Freckles are beautiful!”

The girl looked up. “Really ?”

“Of course,” Said her grandmother. “Can you tell me one thing that’s prettier than freckles?”

The little girl looked at the old woman’s smiling face. “Wrinkles.” She answered softly.

He Understood!

Two men from US were traveling in Spain. One morning they went into a little restaurant for lunch.

They did not know Spanish, and their waiter did not know English. They wanted him to understand that they wanted some milk and sandwiches. At first they pronounced the word “milk” many times. Then they spelled it. But the waiter could not understand them.

At last one of them took a piece of paper and began to draw a cow. When he finished the drawing, the waiter looked at it and ran out of the restaurant.

One of the men said, “A pencil is very useful if you only speak English!”

The waiter was back again some time after, but bought no milk. He gave the men two tickets for bull-fight!

Sleeping Beauty

Long time ago there lived a King and a Queen far away. They had been expecting a child for many years, but they still had no child. But later the Queen had their first child, a girl. The king was very happy.

When the Queen’s child came, the King invited the fairies to see his child. But one of the fairies was so angry because the King didn’t invite her. She cursed the child would prick her hand with a needle and die. A good fairy changed the curse: made the child sleep for many years. Though the King ordered that throwing away all the needles, the princess was still pricked by a needle. Then she fell asleep. All in the palace fell asleep with the princess. The good fairy set up a wall of trees and flowers. So no one could go into the house. Many people wanted to go into the house of sleeping palace, but they could not go through the trees.

Years went by, a Prince got through the wall bravely, and he kissed the Princess. Then she awoke. All the people in the palace awoke soon after. The Princess was married by the Prince and later they became King and Queen.

A Fisherman And His Wife

Once upon a time there was a fisherman caught a goldfish in the sea. Then the goldfish begged for mercy. He said he was an enchanted prince. And he promised to give the fisherman everything he wants. Then the fisherman put him back into the water. But the fisherman did not make any demands on the goldfish.

When the fisherman went home, his wife was so angry about this thing. So his wife forced him to make demands on the goldfish. The fisherman’s wife didn’t want to live in the shack any longer. She would like to have a hut. The fisherman had no idea and had to go to seaside. He told the goldfish his wife’s wish, and the goldfish satisfied them without another word.

From then on, the fisherman made demands on the goldfish under his wife’s threat for several times. And all the requirements were satisfied. One day, the fisherman’s wife was no longer content to these things, she wanted to be God. When the goldfish heard this, he said nothing and swam back. And the fisherman found what they owned had disappeared when he came home. The rest was their filthy shack. And it was exactly the same as before. They became the poor again. And they are living there even today.

The Little Match-girl

It was terribly cold and dark on the evening of the old year. Snow was falling fast. A little poor girl, with bare head and feet, was still walking through the streets. She was shivering with cold and hunger as she went along. She didn’t dare to go home, she had sold no matches, earned not a single penny and perhaps her father would beat her, besides her home was almost as cold as the street.

She sat down in a corner. Her hands were nearly dead with cold. Ah! Perhaps a burning match might be so good. Then she drew one out. Bravo! It burnt. And when she held her hands over it, it seemed to her that she was sitting before a large stove. The child stretched out her feet to warm them also. Alas, in an instant the flame went out, the stove vanished. The little girl sat cold and comfortless, with the burnt match in hand.

She rubbed another match against the wall. It burst into a flame, and where its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as water, and she could see into the room. The table was covered with a snowy white table-cloth, on which stood a splendid dinner service, and a steaming roast goose. And what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and a folk on its back, to the little girl. Then the match went out, and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.

She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas tree, thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colorful greeting cards. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, but the match went out.

She again rubbed a match on the wall. This time in the brightness stood her old grandmother. Her grandmother was so gender that she hurried to light the whole bundle of matches. And the matches burned with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little in her arms, and they both flew upwards joyfully far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain.

In the Christmas morning, people found a little poor girl’s body on the street, with a handful of burned matches.

Cinderella

Cinderella was a lovely girl, her mother died. Her father married another woman, and the stepmother had brought two elder sisters. Cinderella did a lot of housework every day, so the girl’s clothes were very dirty. Everybody called her Cinderella.

One day the Prince gave all the females in the country an invitation, asked them to come in the palace to join the dance party. But Cinderella’s stepmother didn’t let her go. The day of the party arrived, Cinderella met a fairy godmother. She gave Cinderella a coach, a pair of shoes, two horses, and a beautiful dress. But magic would stop working at midnight.

Cinderella arrived at the palace and walked into the dance hall. The Prince saw her. He only danced with Cinderella，and he fell in love with her. At that time the chimes reminded Cinderella of the fairy godmother’s warning. She ran out of the palace. The Prince only found Cinderella’s one glass shoe.

The next morning the Prince proclaimed: Whoever the shoe fits, shall be wife of him. He arrived at Cinderella’s house. And Cinderella’s sisters couldn’t fit the shoe. But she could. Then Cinderella took another shoed from her pocket and put it on. Finally, the Prince and Cinderella got married and lived happily ever after.

The Emperor's New Suit

Many years ago there lived an emperor. He was so fond of new clothes that he spent all his money on finery. All he really cared about was showing his new clothes. He had a suit of clothes for every hour of the day.

One day two cheats arrived. They said they could make a beautiful dress, but inept or stupid men could not see it. The emperor believed them. So the two cheats set up two looms and pretended they were working, but there was absolutely nothing upon the looms. Very soon they demanded the finest silk and the purest gold thread, which they put carefully away, and worked on with the empty looms till late into the night.

Over a period of time, the emperor wanted to know how the cloth was getting on. So he sent his worthy minister to the weavers. The minister saw nothing. But he didn’t want other people to know it, so he told the emperor the cloth was very beautiful when he came back. After a few days, the emperor sent another very able official to see how the weaving was getting on. When he came back, he told the emperor the same words as the minister said. Afterwards the emperor decided to see the cloth by himself. But the emperor didn’t see anything. He didn’t want the others to think he was a stupid man, so he said the cloth was very beautiful. All the officials repeated after the emperor. And they advised the emperor to wear the new clothes at a great procession, which was soon to take place. The emperor promised them gladly.

Every one in the streets said the clothes were very beautiful. But only a child told the truth: He has got nothing on. And the people all repeated the word. The emperor shrank within himself as he heard, for it seemed to him that they were right. But he thought at the same time,“At any rate I must go through with this procession to the end.”So he put on a still haughtier airs, and the gentlemen-in-waiting marched behind, carefully holding up the train that wasn’t there.

inept缺乏技巧的;无能的;笨拙的

worthy值得的，可敬的 weave织

shrink退缩

haughty傲慢的

Snow-White and Rose-Red

Once there was a poor widow who lived in a cottage. In front of the cottage there was a garden where stood two rose-trees, one of which was white roses and the other was red roses. She had two daughters who were like the two roses, one was called Snow-white, and the other was Rose-red.

One evening, as they were sitting comfortablely together, some one knocked at the door. The mother asked Rose-red to open the door. When Rose-red opened the door, she found a bear there. The bear said he just wanted to warm himself and would do them no harm. So the mother made him came into the house. The bear stretched himself by the fire and lay down. It was not long before the two children became good friends with their clumsy guest. From them on, the bear came every evening. When spring had come, the bear left.

A short time afterwards the mother sent her children into the forest to get fire-wood. There they found a dwarf near a big tree. The dwarf’s beard was caught in a crevice of the tree. At last Snow-white used her scissors to solving the problem for him. But the dwarf went off without thanking the children.

After some time Snow-white and Rose-red went to catch fish, they met the dwarf again. The little man was sitting there fishing, and unluckily his beard twisted with the fishing-line, just then a big fish bit, and he was in urgent danger of being dragged into the water. The girls helped the dwarf once again, but the dwarf still didn’t say thanks to them.

It happened that soon afterwards the mother sent the two children to the town to buy needles and thread, laces and ribbons. On the road they saw that an eagle had seized their old acquaintance the dwarf. The children pulled against the eagle and dragged him. The dwarf even didn’t say thanks to them this time. On their way home they were surprised to find the dwarf, who had emptied out his bag of precious stones in a clean spot. The dwarf was very angry, and he began to curse the two sisters. Just then a black bear came towards them. The dwarf sprang up in a fright. The dwarf implored the bear to spare him. And he promised that he would give the bear all his treasures. The bear took no heed of his words, but give the wicked creature a single blow with his paw, and he did not move again. The girls had run away, but when they heard the bear called them, they knew the bear’s voice. And when the bear came up to them suddenly his bear-skin fell off, and he stood there, a handsome man, clothed all in gold. It turned out that the bear was a prince. He was bewitched by that wicked dwarf.

Later Snow-white was married to the prince and Rse-red to his brother. The old mother lived peacefully and happily with her children for many years. She took the two rose-trees with her, they stood in front of her window, and every year the two rose-trees bloom the most beautiful roses, white and red.

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