经典英语故事50个.doc

英语故事English Stories 目 录 Contents英语故事Stories in English1I. A French Traveler22. A Smart Boy33. But I Missed Again44. Getting Lost45. A Clever Boy56. Who Deserves Help?67. Be Medically Examined68 .A Horse Thief79. Mark Twain Was Fooled810 .The Generals Teeth811. Balzacs Handwriting912. Einstein and Chauffeur1013. Florence Nightingale1114. An Advertisement for Modern Bicycle1215. A Clever Interpreter1316. Who Pushed Me In1317. A Clever Man1418. Do I Have to Give the Watch Back?1519. Minding His Ts and 2s1620. A Bet1721 .The Man Who Had No Friends1822. Uncle Podgerat Work1923. An Attempted Murder1924 .The Lost Ring2125. The Perfect Pearl2226. A Funny Thing Happened to Me. .2327. Like Clockwork2428 .The Ugly Duckling2529. The Nightingale2630 .A Faithful Dog2731The Fox and the Grape2832. The Hare and the Tortoise2933 .The Wolf and the Lamb2934The Milkmaid3035. The Lion and the Mouse3136. April Fools Day3237. Valentines Day3338 .The Three Wishes3339. The Magic Kettle3440. Menciuss Mother3541. The Thief and His Mother3642. The Fisherman and the Gold Fish3743 .The Kind-hearted Mermaid4044. Cinderella4245.The Garden of Eden and the Serpent4546. The Tower of Babel4647. The Flood4748. Echo4949. Narcissus5050. How Troubles Came into the World511. A French Traveler A Frenchman was once traveling in England. He could speak English quite well but not perfectly. For one thing, his vocabulary was not large. One day, he was having a meal in a small country hotel and wanted to order some eggs. But he couldnt remember the word for eggs. Suddenly, through the window, he saw a rooster walking in the yard. He immediately asked the waiter what the bird was called in English. The waiter told him that it was called a rooster. The Frenchman then asked what the roosters wife was called. The waiter told him that she was called a hen. The Frenchman then asked what the hens children were called. The waiter told him that they were chickens. The Frenchman then asked what the chickens were called before they were born. The waiter told him they were called eggs. Fine! said the Frenchman. Please bring me two eggs and a cup of coffee.lperfectly 熟练地2. vocabulary 个人所使用的词汇量 (集合名词，单数概念.)3. rooster 公鸡(美国英语，同cock.)4bird 此处泛指禽类。点评 这位法国人说的英语实在不敢恭维;但他能利用极之有限的几个单词，解脱了困境，其急智与机巧令人叹服。2. A Smart Boy William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, was born in a small town. As a young boy, he was very quiet and shy. In fact, he was so quiet that many people thought he was stupid. Its a funny things, Williams mother said to him one day, I know that you are a smart boy, but sometimes you let people think you are not so smart. I wonder why? The people of the town liked to play tricks on this boy who they thought was so stupid. Here, William, one of them would say. Here is a nickel, and here is a dime. Which one do you want? William always chose the nickel, and all the people would laugh at him. Finally, his mother took him aside and said to him, William, why do you always choose the nickel instead of the dime? Dont you know that a dime is worth more than a nickel? Certainly I know it, William answered slowly, but if I choose the dime, then people wont play the trick on me any more. Then I wont get any more nickels.注释1. Its a funny thing. 这真逗。2play tricks on 跟开玩笑，戏弄3nickel 五美分硬币4dime 十美分硬币5not.any more 不再点评 有的成年人常以为儿童年幼无知，喜欢作弄他们，殊不知自己被小孩作弄了还蒙在鼓里。3. But I Missed Again Peter Judd joined the army when he was eighteen, and for several months he was taught how to be a good soldier. He did quite well in everything except shooting. One day he and his friends were practising their shootings, and all of them were doing quite well except Peter. After he had shot at the target nine times and had not hit it once, the officer who was trying to teach the young soldiers to shoot said, Youre quite hopeless. Peter! Dont waste your last bullet too! Go behind that wall and shoot yourself with it! Peter felt ashamed?. He went behind the wall, and a few seconds later the officer and the other young soldiers heard the sound of a shot. Heavens! the officer said, Has that silly man really shot himself? He ran behind the wall anxiously, but Peter was all right. Im sorry, sir. he said, but I missed again. 注释lwere practising their shooting 正在练习射击2shot at瞄准(shot的原形动词是shoot，shot是过去分词.)3.felt ashamed 感到羞愧4missed again 又没打中点评 前九次他均未射小靶子，幸亏其射击技术差到极点，第十次才没有射中自己。这次恐怕教官不会埋怨他了吧。4. Getting Lost A couple from another country was once visiting Miami. They wanted to take a walk and to see the city, but they were afraid they might get lost. They did not speak any English. After they left their hotel, they went to the first street corner and looked at the names of the two streets. Then they carefully copied the two names into their notebook, they thought that this would help them find their way back if they got lost. They walked for hours through the city, and suddenly they realized that they were lost. They found a police officer and asked for help, but the officer didnt speak their native language. After an hour they found a person who could help them. She was an interpreter who spoke both their native language and English. They explained that they didnt know the name of their hotel, but they knew which corner it was on. They showed the interpreter what they had copied into their notebook, and the interpreter began to laugh. The words which they had so carefully copied were Stop and One Way.注释la couple 一对夫妇。注意a couple后面用的谓语动词是单数形式。2Miami 迈阿密(美国Florida州东南部的一城市)3get lost 迷路4find their way back 找到回去的路5native language 本国语6Stop 禁止通行7One Way 单行道点评 这对夫妇特地抄下的原来是普普通通的路标，并非他们以为已万无一失地记下之街道名。5. A Clever Boy I have a seven year old son named John. He loves chocolates. He often takes chocolates instead of meals. Therefore, he gets very bad teeth. The dentist told me not to let him eat chocolates any more. But his grandfather dotes on him very much. He often buys John chocolates even though he knows that they are bad for his teeth. I know that John is his only grandson, who is everything to him. I really dont want to make him unhappy. Therefore, I always allow John to eat the chocolates his grandpa has bought him. Yesterday evening I kissed John good night and asked him to say his prayers before going to bed, then I left his bedroom. A few minutes later, I heard John shouting word by word, Tomorrow -is-my- birthday. May - God- bring - me - a - big - box - of - chocolates. I went to his room and saw him kneeling on the ground shouting out his prayers. I said, Dont shout, John. Your dad is sleeping now! God can hear you no matter how softly you talk to him. Pointing to the next room where his grandpa sleeps, John said secretly, My God is sleeping. He cant hear me unless I wake him up. 注释ldote on 溺爱，过分偏爱2who is everything to him 这是一个非限制性定语从句，意为约翰是他爷爷的一切。3kissed John good night 跟约翰吻别，道晚安。4My God 此处指约翰的爷爷。点评 小约翰借晚祷大声道出自己的心愿，竟不惜惊醒爷爷的美梦。不知爷爷是否惊醒?6. Who Deserves Help? Many years ago, there lived a very rich man who wanted to do something for the people of his town. But first he wanted to find out whether they deserved his help. So he placed a very large stone in the center of the main road into town. Then he hid behind a tree and waited. Soon an old man came along with his cow. Who put this stone in the center of the road? said the old man, but he did not try to remove the stone. Instead, with some difficulty he passed around the stone and continued on his way. Another man came along and did the same thing; then another came, and another. All of them complained about the stone in the center of the road, but not one of them tried to remove it. Late in the afternoon, a young man came along. He saw the stone and said, The night will be very dark. Some neighbor will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone. The young man then began to move the stone. He pushed and pulled with all his strength to move it to one side. But imagine his surprise when under the stone he found a bag full of money and this message: This money is for the thoughtful person who removes this stone from the road. That person deserves help.注释ldeserve 值得2came along 走过来3complain 抱怨4fall against 踢着而跌倒5pushed and pulled with all his strength用尽他所有的力气又推又拉点评 故事告诉我们，真正为他人着想的人理应得到别人的帮助。7. Be Medically Examined A young man was called up for army service and had to go to be medically examined. The doctor was sitting at a desk when he went in. He said to the man. Take your coat and shirt off, loosen your belt and sit on that chair. The young man did so. The doctor looked at him for a moment without getting up from his chair and then said, All right. Put your clothes on again. But you havent examined me at all, the young man said in a troubled voice. It isnt necessary, the doctor said gently. When I told you to take your coat and shirt off, you heard me all right, so you arent deaf. You saw the chair I pointed to, so your eyesights good enough for the army. You managed to take your clothes off and to sit on the chair, so your body must be healthy, and you understood what I told you to do and did it without a mistake, so you must possess enough intelligence for the army. 注释lwas called up 被召2be medically examined 进行体格检查3said in a troubled voice 不安地说4possess 拥有点评 这种体检方式确实反常，连接受体检者也觉得不像，但医生却能自圆其说，道出其科学根据。8. A Horse Thief George Washington was a well-known farmer and soldier before he became the first president of the United States. Here is one of the many stories people told about him. Once a neighbor stole one of Washingtons horses. Washington went with a police officer to the neighbors farm to get the horse, but the neighbor refused to give the horse up; he claimed that it was his horse. Washington placed both of his hands over the eyes of the horse and said to the neighbor, If this is your horse, then you must tell us in which eye he is blind. In the right eye! the neighbor said. Washington took his hand from the right eye of the horse and showed the police officer that the horse was not blind in the right eye. Oh, I have made a mistake, said the neighbor. He is blind in the left eye. Washington then showed that the horse was not blind in the left eye, either. I have made another mistake, said the neighbor. Yes, said the police officer, and you have also shown us that you are a thief. This horse does not belong to you. You must return it to Mr. Washington.注释lclaim声称2 in which eye he is blind 这是一个宾语从句它哪只眼晴是瞎的。点评 面对这个巧妙的提问，心虚的贼不打自招，原形毕露。9. Mark Twain Was Fooled Mark Twain was famous as a writer, but he was also famous as a public speaker and teller of funny stories. He often went from town to town giving lectures. One day he was walking along the street of a small town where he was going to give a lecture that evening. He met a young man who said, Mr. Twain, Id like to talk to you for a minute, please. I have an uncle that Im very fond of. The problem is he never laughs or smiles. Can you do anything? Bring your uncle to my lecture this evening, young man. I guarantee that hell laugh and smile. Dont worry about a thing. That evening the young man and his uncle sat in the first row. Mark Twain spoke directly at them. He told some very funny stories, but the old man never smiled. Then he told the funniest stories he knew, but the old mans face still remained blank . At last, Mark Twain left the platform almost exhausted . Later Mark Twain was talking with a friend about this. Oh! said the friend, I know that old man. He has been deaf for years.注释1Id like to 我想,我愿意2guarantee 保证3remained blank 依然毫无表情，blank无表情的，空白的4left the platform almost exhausted 离开讲台，几乎精疲力竭。此处exhausted是过去分词，表示状态。点评 幽默大师对着聋子讲笑话，真够幽默!10 .The Generals Teeth Here is a story told about an American general who was a very important figure in the American army during the First World War. Everybody in the United States knew him and many people wished to have a picture or something of his in their homes. Soon after the war the general returned to Washington. One day he went to a dentist and had six teeth pulled out. A week later the general heard that his teeth were being sold in curiosity shops at $ 5 each. On each of the teeth there was a label with the name of the general and words: Buy these teeth and show them to your friends at home. The general got angry. He rushed to his office and ordered six officers to go around the city and buy all his teeth. The officers went out and visited every curiosity shop in the capital. They were away from the office all day. In the evening they returned and put on the table in front of the general the teeth they had bought. They had collected 175 teeth.注释l .told about an American general.这是过去分词短语，后置作定语用，相当于which was told about.2were being sold 正被出售。过去进行时态的被动语态。3curiosity shop 古玩铺，古玩店点评 名人的牙齿成古玩，赚钱有术;假假真真，又何须分辨!11. Balzacs Handwriting Balzac, the famous French writer, wrote many books. His novels are read by people throughout the world. He was said to be good at many things. And his achievements were great! It is said that Balzac had very high opinion of his handwriting. He spent much time practicing writing. And he often told his friends that he could describe a persons character from a persons handwriting. One day, a woman friend brought him a few sheets of a boys handwriting. She said that she wanted to know what Balzac thought of the boys character. Balzac studied the handwriting carefully for a few minutes. Then he looked at the woman strangely. The woman, however, told him that the boy was no relative of hers and that he could tell her the truth. Good, said Balzac. Then I can speak frankly. He then went on to say that he thought the boy was a careless and lazy person. He would grow up to be a good- for-nothings . His family would be ashamed of him, he added. Isnt that strange, said the woman, smiling.Because this happens to be pages youre your own copybook，which you yourself used when you were a boy.注释lBalzac 巴尔扎克,法国著名文学家，他的作品有人间喜剧等。2be good at 擅长于3It is said that 据说4no relative of hers 不是她的亲戚5good-for-nothing 无用的人，饭桶6happen to 碰巧 ，偶然点评 能洞察人间种种奸猾险诈的巴尔扎克，却被此妇人施以小计，以彼之矛刺彼之身。12. Einstein and Chauffeur There is a story about how Albert Einstein was traveling to universities in a chauffeur-driven car, delivering lectures on his theory of relativity. One day whiles transit, the chauffeur remarked: Dr. Einstein, Ive heard that lecture 30 times. I know it by heart and bet I could give it myself. Well, Ill give the chance, said Einstein. They dont know me at the next school, so when we get there Ill put on your cap and you introduce yourself as me and give the lecture. The chauffeur delivered Einsteins lecture flawlessly. When he finished, he started to leave, but one of the professors stopped him and asked a complex question filled with mathematical equations and formulas. The chauffeur thought fast. The solution to that problem is so simple, he said, Im surprised you have to ask me. In fact, to show you just how simple it is. Im going to ask my chauffeur to come up here and answer your question. 注释1Albert Einstein 阿尔伯特爱因斯坦(1879一1955)(美国物理学家，生于德国，是相对论的创立人。)2a chauffeur-driven car 由驾驶员驾驶的汽车;chauffeur汽车司机。3delivering lectures on his the of relativity作有关相对论的报告，现在分词短语。4in transit 在路途中5flawlessly 完美无缺地6a complex question filled with mathematical equations and formulas一个涉及方程式和数学公式的复杂问题点评 爱因斯坦智慧过人，其司机冒名顶替，差点露馅，却能巧妙遮掩，未出破绽。真是强将手下无弱兵!13. Florence Nightingale Be a lady, dear. Thats what we want! How many times pretty young Florence Nightingale heard these words from her father and mother! But for her, being a lady was not enough. She wanted to do something for others. Florences father was a very rich man. Florence took lessons in music and drawing and read great books. She could speak French, German, and Italian as well as English. And she traveled a great deal with her mother and father. As a child she felt that visiting sick people was both a duty and a pleasure. She enjoyed helping them. As often as she could, she visited hospitals in other countries. She saw so much suffering that she knew she must help. At last her mind was made up. Im going to be a nurse, she described. Nursing isnt the right work for a lady, her father told her. Then I will make it so, she smiled. And she went to learn nursing in Germany and France. When she returned to England, Florence started a nursing home for women. Here she did everything from washing floors to giving her patients new hope. During the Crimean War in 1854 many soldiers were wounded or became ill. News reached England that they received very little care. At once Florence Nightingale wrote to the War Office and offered her services. She went with a band of thirty-eight nurses to the hospitals at Scutari. What they saw there was even worse than they expected. Dirt and death were everywhere to be seen and smelled. The officer there did not want any women to tell him how to run a hospital, either. But the brave nurses went to work. Florence used her own money and some from friends to buy clothes, beds, medicines, and food for the men. Her only pay was smiles from the lips of dying soldiers. But they were more than enough for this kind woman. She fell dangerously ill herself, but she did not stop working. Her thin hands worked day and night. Even in the last hours of night she could be seen walking with a lamp past each bed. The soldiers often kissed her shadow as the lady of the lamp went by. After the war she returned to England and was honored for her services by Queen Victoria. But Florence said that her work had just begun. She raised money to build the Nightingale Home for Nurses in London, and she asked young girls to learn nursing there. she also wrote a book on public health which was printed in several countries. Florence Nightingale did at the age of ninety，still trying to serve others through her work as a nurse. Indeed，it is because of Florence Nightingale that we honor nurses today.注释lFlorence Nightingale 弗洛伦斯南丁格尔(1820一1910)(女，英国人，参加克里米亚战争的英国护士，为近代护理制度的创始人。)2，Be a lady. 意为做一个高尚的妇女。3At last her mind was made up. 最后她下定决心。make up ones mind 下决心4，make it so 使它(护士职业)成为适合女士的工作5，a nursing home 护理院6Crimean War 指的是 1853一1956年的克里米亚战争。7Scutari 斯库台 (又称Shkoder，是阿尔巴尼亚西北部的一城市，历史上曾先后被土耳其、奥地利等国占领过.)8in the last hours of night深夜9the lady of the lamp 掌灯女士10Oueen Victoria 维多利亚女王(英国的女王)1lraise money 筹措款项，募集资金。12the Nightingale Home for Nurses 南丁格尔护士之家点评 无论从事何种职业，只要尽心尽力为大众谋福利，都是一个高尚的人，永远受人尊崇，被人怀念。14. An Advertisement for Modern Bicycle Tom saw an advertisement in a newspaper for a beautiful modern bicycle which cost $50, so he went to the shop which had put the advertisement in and asked to see one of their wonderful bicycles. The shopkeeper was very happy to show one to Tom, who examined it carefully and then turned to the shopkeeper, saying, There isnt lamp on thi