The Donkey and the Statue

    The Donkey and the Statue
A donkey was once chosen to carry a holy statue through the town．Crowds of people came from all over the countryside to see the procession．They lined both sides of the street，pushing and jostling to get nearer to the front．As the donkey went past all the people bowed down to pray to the statue．Some of them reached out their hands to touch it；others knelt down on their knees by the road in front of it．The donkey began to feel he was a very important animal．“Fancy all these people showing me so much respect，”he thought．“I never knew I was so powerful．To think that all this time I have been doing everything my master told me．”
    He decided¹ to try out his power．“I really don't feel like walking any further，”he said to himself．“I'll just stand here for a while and let the people admire me．”And here fused² to take another step．The wack！A sharp blow fell on his back．“Get along with you，”hissed his master angrily．“What do you mean by holding up the procession like this？”
    “All in good time，”replied the donkey grandly．“I am just giving these good people a chance to look at me．”
    His master began to laugh loudly．“You poor stupid animal，”he said，pulling the donkey's mane to make him walk on．“The people are not interested in you． It is the statue on your back they are here to see．Come along now before I lose my temper．”
    Make sure it's really you people are praising，before you give yourself airs．Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ① What were the people doing when a donkey was once chosen to carry a holy statue？
    ② Why did the donkey refuse to take another step？
    ③ What did his master say to him？

1 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。

2 fused   

adj.熔合在一起的

参考例句：

• The wax from the two candles fused as they burned. 两根蜡烛上的蜡燃烧时熔化在一起。
• The burning hearts of the revolutionaries fused into one. 革命者火热的心融合在一起。