英文短故事：The Swans and The Turtle

There was a lake at the outskirts¹ of a small village. Two swans³ and a turtle who were good friends lived in the lake. They would play with each other and pass time telling stories. 

 

One year, there were no rains and the lake started drying up. 

 

“The lake is almost dry. We have to find some other place to live," said the turtle to the swans. “We will fly around and look for a suitable⁴ place," said the swans. Both the swans flew in different directions in search of a better place to live. A little distance away, one of the swans spotted⁵ a large lake. It had plenty of water and there were many fishes in it. He flew back to tell the others. 

 

The three of them were very excited with the find. “Wow! Now we won’t have any problem," said the turtle. 

 

“There is only one problem," replied one swan². “The two of us can fly there in no time. But you crawl⁶ very slowly. And it is some distance away. You will never reach there." 

 

The turtle thought for some time. Suddenly his face lit up. “I have an idea," he said. “You bring me a stick. I will hold the center of the stick in my mouth. Both of you can hold the stick on either side. That way you can fly me with you to our new home." 

 

“It is a very good idea, but you have to make sure you do not open your mouth for any reason. If you do, you will fall to your death," warned⁷ one of the swans. 

 

The turtle agreed. 

 

“Remember what we told you," reminded the swans as they got ready to fly. Soon they were flying high in the sky. They had to fly over the village to get to the lake. As they flew over the village, people ran out into the streets to look at this amazing sight. 

 

“What clever birds. They are carrying a turtle on a stick!" exclaimed⁸ one man. Every one was excited to see such an amazing sight. 

 

“It was my idea. I am the clever one. I need to let them know," thought the turtle. He opened his mouth to explain, but before the foolish turtle could say anything, he fell with a thud and died. 

 

The swans looked down at their dead friend and shook their heads bitterly⁹ at his foolishness. “If he had kept his mouth shut, he would be alive and happy with us," said one swan to the other as they landed at the big lake which would be their home from then on.  

1 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

2 swan   

n.天鹅；vi.闲荡，游荡

参考例句：

• A swan has white feathers and a long thin neck.天鹅长着白色的羽毛和长而细的脖子。
• Swan Lake is the name of a famous ballet.天鹅湖是一出著名的芭蕾舞剧。

3 swans   

n.天鹅( swan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of swans floated by. 一群天鹅缓缓游过。
• Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。

4 suitable   

adj.合适的，适当的，适宜的

参考例句：

• Tomorrow will be quite suitable.明天挺合适。
• Is she suitable for the job?她适于做这工作吗？

5 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

6 crawl   

vi.／n.爬行，匍匐行进；缓慢(费力)地行进

参考例句：

• We learn to crawl before we learn to walk.我们学会走路之前先要学会爬。
• She slowed the car to a crawl.她把车开得很慢。

7 warned   

v.警告( warn的过去式和过去分词 )；提醒；告诫；预先通知

参考例句：

• Motorists have been warned to beware of icy roads. 已经提醒开车的人当心冰封的路面。
• I've warned her countless times. 我警告过她无数次了。

8 exclaimed   

vt.exclaim的过去式v.呼喊，惊叫，大声说( exclaim的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "We have a good chance of winning," he exclaimed optimistically. “我们很可能获胜。”他乐观地喊道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She exclaimed in delight when she saw the presents. 她见到礼品高兴得叫了起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 bitterly   

adv.苦涩地；痛苦地；不痛快地；残酷地

参考例句：

• The development was bitterly opposed by the local community. 这一开发项目遭到了当地社区的愤怒抵制。
• They were bitterly disappointed at the result of the game. 他们对比赛结果极为失望。