读点好英文:The Boy and His Axe 男孩和他的斧头
The Boy and His Axe 男孩和他的斧头
A long time ago, there lived a very poor but hard working boy in a small suburb. His father was so ill that he became bedridden.To earn a living, the boy woke up early in the morning and went into the jungle to chop wood for sale in the suburb.
One particular day, the boy carried his axe and went into the jungle as usual. When he was near a lake, he saw a big tree.He climbed up the tree and tried to chop some branches.Suddenly his axe slipped and fell into the lake.The boy started crying because he had lost the one tool he needed to earn his living.
Suddenly the water surface rippled and an old man appeared. Seeing that the boy was frightened, he said，“My boy, please do not be afraid.Tell me why you are crying so sadly.”
“My axe dropped into the water. I need it to earn a living to care for my sickly father.”
“Let me search for it，”said the old man. Then he disappeared into the water and the lake became calm again.After a while, the water surface rippled again and the old man reappeared.In his hand was a shining golden axe.
“Is this your axe?”asked the old man.
“This axe is beautiful, but it is not mine，”said the boy.
“Well, let me go in and search once more.”The old man disappeared into the water again. A moment later, he reappeared.This time, he was holding a silver axe.
“Is this your axe?”asked the old man.
“No, mine is just an ordinary one, not made of gold or silver，”replied the boy.
“All right, let me go in and search again.”He then disappeared into the water.
He reappeared this time carrying the boy's axe.
“Yes, yes, that is mine！”shouted the boy excitedly.
The old man said，“My dear boy, I am so pleased that you are such an honest person. I am giving the golden and silver axes to you.You can then find a good doctor and I am sure your father will recover very soon.”The old man then disappeared into the water.
The boy sold both the axes. With the money, he managed to find a good doctor and soon cured his father of his illness.
从前，在一个小村子里，住着一个贫穷却很勤劳的男孩。他的父亲患了重病，长期卧床不起。为了维持生活，男孩不得已每天天刚亮就上山砍柴，然后在村子里卖。
有一天，男孩像往常一样，拿了斧头到深山里去砍柴。男孩在湖边发现一棵大树。他爬上树，挥动斧头砍树枝。突然，斧头从他手中滑落到了湖里。男孩伤心地哭了起来，没有了斧头，他无以为生了。
这时，平静的湖水起了涟漪，从波浪中出现了一位老汉。这吓了男孩一跳，老汉说：“孩子，别怕。告诉我你为何哭得如此伤心？”
“我的斧头掉到湖里去了，我靠它谋生，以此来赚钱照顾我生病的父亲。”
“我这就给你找斧头去。”老汉说完，便消失在湖中了，湖水又恢复了以往的平静。不一会儿，湖水又动荡了起来，老汉从波浪中走出来。他手里拿着一把闪闪发光的金斧头。
“这是你的斧头吗？”老汉问。
“这把斧头好漂亮啊！但它不是我的。”男孩说。
“那好，我再去找你的斧头。”老汉的身影又消失在湖中。过了一会儿，他又手举一把银斧头从波浪里出来。
“是这把吗？”老人问。
“也不是，我的斧头既不是金的，也不是银的，它只是一把普普通通的斧头。”男孩说。
“那好，我再去找找看。”老汉说完又消失在湖中。
老汉再次现身时，手里拿着男孩的斧头。
男孩兴奋地叫道：“是的，是的，这才是我的斧头！”
老汉说：“好孩子，我真高兴你是个如此诚实的孩子。我把金斧头和银斧头也一起送给你。你给你父亲找个好医生，我相信，你父亲很快就会好起来。”老汉说完，又消失在湖中了。
男孩卖掉了金银斧头，用换来的钱找了位医术高明的医生。他父亲的病很快就被治好了。
Practising&Exercise 实战提升篇
单词注解
disdain[di'sdein]v.鄙视，轻蔑；污辱
distinguish[di'stiŋgwiʃ]v.区分，辨别
confess[kən'fes]v.供认，承认；坦白
conspicuous[kən'spikjuəs]a.显眼的，易见的
fright[frait]n.惊吓；恐怖
cure[kjuə]v.治愈，治好
实用句型
The birds do not dare to rise from the ground.
鸟儿们不敢飞离地面。
I need it to earn a living to care for my sickly father.
我靠它谋生，以此来赚钱照顾我生病的父亲。
智慧点津
The ordinary post to give himself more worthy of our respect, it is their toil that brings our facilities and amenities.
那些在平凡岗位上默默奉献的人更值得我们尊敬，是他们的辛劳给我们带来了便利和舒适。
Honesty is the best quality.
诚实是最好的美德。
