英语听力精选进阶版 11249

 

09Aesop's Fables¹  

The Dog, the Cockerel and the Fox

By Tracey Hammett

Dog lived in the farmyard and it was her job to let everyone know when someone was at the gate. 

And she did her job very well.

Cockerel lived in the farmyard too and it was his job to wake every-one up in the morning!  

He was an excellent alarm clock.

One day Dog said to Cockerel  'Let's go for an adventure in the big wide world.'

'I'm not sure that's a good idea,' 

Cockerel replied, 'I've heard that there 's a fox nearby whose favour-ite food is cockerel pie! '

'Well if a fox tries to bake you in a pie! ' said  Dog,  'I'll soon sort him out…GRRRRR GRRRR!'

'In that case, I'll come with you! ' said Cockerel.

So off they went.

The big wide world was wide indeed…with sky at the top and hills underneath² and a squiggly path that seemed to go on forever.

The two friends journeyed along the path, then, just as the sun slipped behind the hills they came to a wood.

'It 'll be dark soon, ' said  Cockerel.  

'Let's find a place to sleep.'

'This tree looks perfect,' woofed Dog,  'it 's big and it 's hollow, so I can curl up inside and keep guard!'

'And there 's a wide branch where I can roost!' said  Cockerel.

Dog curled up in the hollow tree and Cockerel roosted on the branch.

Suddenly they heard a sound.

'What was that?' said  Cockerel.

'Just an owl,' woofed Dog.

'Oh, thank goodness, ' said  Cockerel, 

'I thought it was a fox coming to gobble me up!'

'Yes ,'  said  Cockerel, 'foxes are slinky and sneaky and sly and their favourite food is cockerel pie! ' 

'I'll protect you!' said  Dog,  'A fox can ' t find you on that branch any -way, not unless you cock-a-doodle-doo.'

'That's true!' said  Cockerel. 'Good-night, Dog! '

'Goodnight, Cockerel  -  and remem-ber not to cock-a-doodle-doo in the morning, or the fox might hear you!'

Cockerel slept happily after that.

But in the morning when the sun came up, he thought he was still on the farm. So he let out a loud COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO. Which woke up Fox.

'Ooops!'  clucked Cockerel, 'Now I've gone and done it!'

'Good morning, Cockerel, ' growled³ Fox.

'Good morning!' Cockerel replied nervously⁴.

Fox narrowed his eyes,  'I haven⁵ ' t seen you in this wood before! ' 

'I only arrived last night,' clucked Cockerel nervously.

'Why don' t you invite me up, it would be rude not to, ' said  Fox.

'I haven ' t tidied up yet! ' said Cockerel, 'P op back later! '

'I don ' t mind if your branch is untidy!'  said Fox.

Cockerel sighed, 'Come on up then, ' he said slyly. 'Go round to the door at the bottom of the tree and my porter will let you in! '

Fox grinned to himself a sneaky grin…a thread of drool hung from his chin. He went to the hollow in the tree…where Dog was waiting patiently.

'Hey , Mr Fox , you wanted to trick me and gobble me up, but I tricked you instead!' clucked  Cockerel.

Fox ran off as fast as he could… and he's never been seen in that part of the wood again.

'That was an adventure! ' Dog yapped.

And home they went to tell the tale of how the  Fox’s plan had failed.

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 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

3 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。