英语听力精选进阶版 11243

 

03Aesop's Fables¹  

The Fox and the Crow

By Rob John

One morning a Fox was walk-ing through the woods looking for something tasty to eat for his breakfast when his nose picked up a scent² - a scent of something very interesting. He stood still and sniffed³ the air.

‘Cheese,’ he said. ‘I smell cheese. 

Now why would there be cheese in the middle of a wood like this?’

The Fox didn’t have to wait long to find out because there sitting on a branch high up in a tree sat a crow and in the crow’s beak⁴ was the biggest piece of cheese he’d ever seen.  

Now the Fox loved cheese more than anything in the whole world and he decided⁵ that come what may he would have that piece of cheese for himself.

‘Morning Mr Crow,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you come down and have a little chat.’

The Crow didn’t reply. He just sat on his branch and looked down at the Fox.

‘He must think I’m stupid ,’ thought the Crow to himself. ‘That fox is after my cheese. If I fly down there he’ll jump on me and gobble me up first and then the cheese. Foxes can’t climb trees so I’ll just sit up here and enjoy my piece of cheese.’ 

The Crow was just about to swallow his lump of cheese when the Fox said.

‘That cheese looks a bit mouldy to me. I wouldn’t eat it if I were you. 

Mouldy cheese is very very danger-ous. You could easily get ill from bad cheese.  If I were you I’d be on the safe side and just drop that cheese right now.’

‘Oh no,’ thought the Crow. ‘I’m not falling for that. There’s nothing wrong with this cheese. I found it fresh this morning. It smells won-derful and I’m going to eat it right now.’

The Crow looked straight at the Fox and waggled his piece of cheese as if to say ‘Look what I’ve got! Aren’t I the lucky one!’

‘Right,’ thought the Fox. ‘This Crow isn’t quite as stupid as he looks. 

I’m going to have to try something else.’

‘You know, Mr Crow,’ said the Fox, 

‘you really do have the most  lovely feathers.’ 

The Crow smiled to himself. He was rather proud of his sleek⁶ black feathers. The Fox was right. They were rather lovely.

‘And your head,’ said the Fox. ‘Your head is very fine indeed. Makes you look fierce...but wise at the same time.’

‘Right again,’ thought the Crow. 

‘That Fox knows what he’s talking about because I do look fierce...and I am very very wise.’

‘And I bet you’ve got the most beautiful singing voice too,’ said the Fox. ‘I can tell just by looking at you. I mean all crows are good singers...’

The Crow nodded.

‘And I bet you’re the best singer 

out of all the crows .’

The Crow nodded again .

‘See, I can tell you’re a great sing-er just by looking at you. Oh how 

I’d love to hear you sing. Just once. 

That’s all I ask. Just one little song would make me so happy.’

The Crow’s mind was racing⁷ as the Fox started to walk away.

‘Oh well I see I’m not in luck today,’ sighed the Fox. ‘Suppose I’ll  just have to go and listen to a boring old sky lark⁸...or nightingale...’ 

The crow thought to himself. ‘The 

Fox is right. I’m a wonderful sing-er. Much better than those boring nightingales...and larks⁹...very over-rated...I shall sing. I shall sing for the Fox right now.’

As the crow opened his beak and started to sing...the piece of cheese fell to the ground. 

The Fox licked his lips. ‘Thank you Mr Crow,’ he said. ‘You can stop singing now. That horrible sound’s spoiling my breakfast.’

‘But you said you loved to hear a crow sing.’

‘Never believe what people tell you when they’re trying to steal your cheese,’ said the Fox...and he winked¹⁰ at the crow as he gobbled up the last little bit. 

1 fables   

n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说

参考例句：

• Some of Aesop's Fables are satires. 《伊索寓言》中有一些是讽刺作品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Little Mexican boys also breathe the American fables. 墨西哥族的小孩子对美国神话也都耳濡目染。 来自辞典例句

2 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

3 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 beak   

n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻

参考例句：

• The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
• This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 sleek   

adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢

参考例句：

• Women preferred sleek,shiny hair with little decoration.女士们更喜欢略加修饰的光滑闪亮型秀发。
• The horse's coat was sleek and glossy.这匹马全身润泽有光。

7 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

8 lark   

n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏

参考例句：

• He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
• She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。

9 larks   

n.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的名词复数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了v.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的第三人称单数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了

参考例句：

• Maybe if she heard the larks sing she'd write. 玛丽听到云雀的歌声也许会写信的。 来自名作英译部分
• But sure there are no larks in big cities. 可大城市里哪有云雀呢。” 来自名作英译部分

10 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》