The Sick Lion

    An old lion lay ill in his den¹．All the animals came to visit him，but none of them could do anything for him and every day he grew weaker and weaker．“Have you noticed，my lord lion，”said the wolf one day，“that the fox has not come to see you？How he flattered you when you were well and strong．”
    The fox happened to pass by at that moment and，overhearing the wolf's words，he put his long，foxy nose round the corner．“I'm afraid，sir，that the wolf does not understand things quite well．I care more about you than anyone else．While he has been chattering² at your side，I've been rushing all over the place trying to find a cure for you．I'm quite worn out．”
    “Have you found anything？”asked the lion eagerly．“Yes，indeed I have．I found an old doctor who really knows what he is talking about．He said you must wrap yourself in the skin of a newly－killed wolf．That's the only thing that will make you better．”
    Before the wolf knew what was happening，the lion had sprungup and killed him for his warm skin．“Aha！”laughed the fox．“You won't stir up trouble again in a hurry，Mr Wolf．”
    Troulemakers make trouble for themselves．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ①The old lion grew weaker and weaker because none of the animals could cure him．② The wolf was killed because of nothing．③ The fox was very sly．

1 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

2 chattering   

n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
• I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。