第668期:英语小故事-The Singing of the Cicada

 现在的时代，真的很好。信息发达，物质丰富。只要你有疑惑，你可以瞬间通过关键词找到你所需要的信息。不管你缺什么，网上几乎都能找到你想玩，想吃，想穿，想用的任何东西。这个时代，似乎不管找什么，都非常的便捷，更甚者，没有你找不到，只有你想不到。

但这个时代，唯有一样东西，越来越难找到。而且，就算是依靠发达的搜索，物流，专业的app,书籍，机构也是难以找到的。这样东西，就是自己。 今天分享一个小故事，从一个侧面可以给我们提供一个找回自己的路径和线索。

New Words:

cicada n. 蝉; 知了;

endure v. 忍耐; 忍受; 持续; 持久;

shortcoming n.缺点; 短处;

dew n.露; 露水;

earthy adj.粗俗的; 庸俗的;

capability¹ n.能力; 才能;

The best thing about the donkey is that it has a strong back to carry heavy loads and endure hardships.

驴子优点是腰力好，能负重又能吃苦耐劳。

The shortcoming of the donkey is that he makes awful sounds, as unpleasant as the screams of ghosts.

驴子缺点是嗓子破，叫声如鬼哭狼嚎。

One day, the donkey heard a very pleasant voice, it was the cicada.

有一天，驴子听到了一个非常好听的声音，原来是蝉的声音。

What do you eat every day? Why does your voice sound so sweet?

你每天吃什么? 为何声音这么好?

I drink only morning dew, and I don't eat any grass.

我只喝露水不吃草。

My voice is not beautiful because I eat foods that are too earthy.

原来是我吃的食物太俗,声音才不美妙。

From then on, the donkey consumed only mountain dew and not a blade of grass. And eventually, he starved to death.

从此以后，驴只吃露水不吃草，结果饿死了。

Everybody has his own strengths and weaknesses. To give up one's strength to search for what is beyond one's capabilities² often requires paying a high price even to the extent of one's own life.

人各有所长所短，弃己之长，奢求自己所不能的，往往要付出很高代价，甚至于宝贵的生命。

1 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

2 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓