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六. The Blue Pig with a Black Tail
Once upon a time(从前) a certain king sent a message to another king, saying, “Send me a blue pig with a black tail,or else——”
The other replied, “I haven't one; if I had——”
Both kings weresoangrythat they went to war with each other.They collected all their soldiers and fought with each other.Brave men were killed, and women and children died because they could get nothing to eat.
When itseemedthatneithersidecould win the war, the kings began to talkabout peace.Firstofall, it was necessary to explainthe two messages.Each king was angry at what the other had said.
“What did you mean,”Asked the second king, “by saying, ‘sending a blue pig with a black tail, or else——’?”
“Why,”said the first king, “I could mean only one thing.I meant that I wanted you to send me a blue pig with a black tail, or else a pig of some other color.”
“Oh, that was all, was it? I did not get the whole of your message,”answered the second king.“Whatapity!“He added.
“Ah, but I must know what you meant by your reply to my message,”asked the first king.“You said, 'I haven't one; if I had——”'
“Why, my answer is very clear.I meant that I hadn't one; if I had, I should have sent it to you.”
“Well, well! “said the first king, “We have been fighting about nothing.If we had only explained these things before the war started, then this bitter war must have been avoided.”
So the great war of the blue pig with the black tail was recorded in the histories of the two countries in order to prevent such a war happening again.
【汉语翻译】
黑尾巴的蓝猪
从前有位国王给另一位国王送去一条信息，说，“给我送来一只长着黑尾巴(tail)的蓝猪，或者其他的——”
另一位回答说，“我没有这样的猪，如果我有——”。
两位国王如此生气以致于(so angry that)发动了战争。他们调集所有士兵去打仗。勇敢的士兵死在战场上，女人和孩子因为没有食物而死去。
看来好像(it seemed that.)双方都不能(neither side could)打赢这场战争，于是两位国王开始谈论和平(talk about peace)。首先(first of all)，有必要去解释(explain)那两条信息。两位国王都因对方所说的话而生气。
第二位国王问道，“你当时说‘送我一只长着黑尾巴的蓝猪，否则——’，你那么说是什么意思？”
“怎么，”第一位国王回答道，“我只能表示一个意思啊，我是说我希望你给我送一只黑尾巴的蓝猪，或者其他颜色的猪。”（注：or else可有两种解释，一是作为短语，译为“否则”，二是作为两个单独的单词，放在一起译为“或者其他”）
第二位国王回答，“哎呀！就是这个意思啊？我没有理解你信息的全部。”他补充说(add)。“真可惜(what a pity)!”
“嗯，但我必须知道你的回信是什么意思，”第一位国王补充道，“你说‘我没有这样的猪，即使我有——’”。
“我的回答很清楚啊。我是说我没有那样的猪；如果有的话，我会送给你的。”
“哎呀！”第一位国王说，“我们之间的战争毫无理由。如果我们能在战争开始之前解释清楚这些事情，这场痛苦的战争(bitter war)就一定能避免(avoid)。”
于是这场关于黑尾巴的蓝猪的战争被载入(was recorded)两国史册以防止(prevent)此类现象再次发生。
七.A Girl's Smile
About ten years ago when I was a student in college,life was hard for me then.Both my parents had lost their jobs, so I worked at my University's Museum in my spare time.One day whileworkinginthegiftshop, I saw an old couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.
AsI looked closer at this girl, I found that she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso(躯干).She was wearing a prettywhite dress,also a little redcap.
Whenthey came closer to me, I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink(眨眼).As I took the money from her grandparents,I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the prettiest, largest smile I had ever seen.
All of a sudden her handicap(残疾)was gone and all I saw was this perfect girl.I was deeplymoved by her smile, and almost immediately she gave me acompletelynew senseof what life is all about.She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world: a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was ten years ago.I'm a successful business person now and whenever I am in 
low spirits and think about the troubles of the world, I'll think about that little girl and the lesson about life that she taught me, so I will never lose courage.
【汉语翻译】
一个女孩的微笑
大约十年前，我还在大学(college)里学习，那时的生活很艰难。我的父母都失业了，因此，我在业余时间去大学博物馆工作，有一天，当我正在礼品店工作时(while working in the gift shop)，我看到一对老年夫妇推着一个坐在轮椅(wheelchair)里的小女孩进来了。
当我仔细看这女孩时，我发现她没有胳膊和腿，只有头(head)、颈和躯干。她穿着漂亮的(pretty)白色衣服(dress)，还戴着一顶小红帽(cap)。
当他们走近我时，我转向这个女孩并对她眨了眨眼。我从她的祖父母(grandparents)手里接过钱时，我又回头看看那个女孩，她正在给我一个最漂亮、最灿烂的微笑。
突然间她的残疾消失了，我所看到的是一个完美的(perfect)女孩。她的笑容深深地(deeply)打动了我，几乎立刻让我对人生有了全新的(completely new)感觉(sense)。她把我从一个贫穷不幸大学生带入了她的世界：一个微笑、爱和温暖的世界。
那是十年前的事了。现在我已是一名成功的商人。无论何时(whenever)我情绪低落(in low spirits)、因烦恼而忧虑时，我就会想起那个小女孩和她教给我的关于生活的教训，因此，我从未丧失勇气(lose courage)。
八. Take Our Daughters to Work Day
On April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Brkain.Started in 
America and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15.On that day thousands of girl stake a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places.The purpose of this day is to open up girls' eyes and get them to believe in themselves.
For many years people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But in fact girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a manager. On this special day, girls can have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help girls to believe in themselves when they need to choose their work.
Schools and many companies also think this activity useful.Green Middle School for Girls, in north London has made the day a necessary part of education.
Zarina, 15, studying in Green Middle school, went to her mother's law office. She found it interesting to see her mother at work. She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks maybe she will does the same work as her mother later.
If parents believe in their daughters and show examples both at work and at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls.Take Our Daughters to Work Day is certainly a step in the right direction.
【汉语翻译】
带着女儿上班节
4月(April) 27日在英国是“带着女儿去上班节”。这个节日起源于美国。1994年传入英国，它已成为11至15岁之间女孩的特殊节日。那一天，成千上万的女孩休假一天(take a day off)，与父亲或母亲一起(together)去他们的工作场所。这个节日的目的(purpose)是让女孩开阔眼界，让她们相信自己(believe in themselves)。
很多年来，人们认为男孩在社会中(in society)可以比女孩做得更好，但实际上，女孩可以像男孩一样做她们想做的任何工作，无论是飞行员(pilot)、护士还是经理(manager)都可以。在这个特殊的日子(on this special day)，女孩可以近距离地观察她们的父母在做什么，这可能会有助于女孩在选择工作时增加自信。
学校和许多公司也认为这项活动(activity)很有用。伦敦北部的格林女子中学已经把这一天作为教育的必要组成部分了。
15岁的加莱纳就读于格林中学，她去了她妈妈的律师事务所(law office)．她发现看她妈妈工作很有意思。她一直有步入法律界的想法，她想可能以后她会像妈妈一样工作。
如果家长相信他们的女儿，在工作中、在家里都为她们树立榜样会对她们有很大帮助。 “带女儿去上班节”无疑是朝正确的方向(in the right direction)迈进了一步。
九.Aunt Frankie (1)
Aunt Frankie is a fun, busy and caring lady!She is always ready to have fun. After a long day at work, she usually comes in the door singing some songs from the 80s.Sometimes she has a new dance step to share.Aunt Frankie and her husband own a candyshop.That shop has brought in some money for them, but they don't buy much furniture.Aunt Frankie enjoys having more spacein her house.
When Aunt Frankie stays at home, she likes to be comfortable,and she almost always wears a big white T-shirt,old pink shorts,and no socksor shoes.
【汉语翻译】
姑妈弗兰奇(1)
姑妈(aunt)弗兰奇是一位有趣、忙碌、有爱心的女士(lady)!她总是喜欢逗乐。工作一整天后，她通常会唱(sing)着80年代的歌进入家门。有时她还会和你分享(share)新的舞步。
姑妈弗兰奇和他的丈夫拥有一家糖果店(candy shop)。那家店铺给他们赚了一些钱，但他们没买很多的家具(furniture)。姑妈弗兰奇喜欢房间里有更多的空间(space)。
姑妈弗兰奇在家时，她喜欢让自己感觉舒服(comfortable)，她几乎总是穿着一件很宽松的白色T恤(T-shirt)，粉色旧短裤(shorts)，不穿袜子(socks)和鞋。
九.Aunt Frankie (2)
I love to visit Aunt Frankie.There I can always please my stomach. Aunt Frankie has the abilityto bake(烤) different kinds of pies and biscuits.They alltasteverydelicious.Eggs, milk,butter,and salt all become wonderful in her kitchen. Shepromises to teach me someday.
When I've come to eat some bananasand pears,she will sit next to me at the table. She puts her hands on mine and asks me how my day was, how my classes are going, what new friends I've made, and whether I've made progress in mygrammarand composition.Aunt Frankie also has many tales and funny jokesto tell me.
【汉语翻译】
姑妈弗兰奇(2)
我喜欢拜访姑妈弗兰奇。在那里我总是可以满足我的胃。姑妈弗兰奇具有烘烤各种不同馅饼(pie)和饼干(biscuit)的能力(ability)。她做的那些尝起来(taste)非常好吃(delicious)。鸡蛋、牛奶、黄油(butter)和盐在她的厨房里(in her kitchen)都会变得美妙无比。她答应以后会教我的。
当我开始吃香蕉(banana)和梨(pear)的时候，她会挨着我坐在桌旁。用她的双手按住我的手，问我过的怎么样，功课如何，我又交了哪些新朋友，还有我的语法(grammar)和作文(composition)是否取得进步(make progress)。姑妈弗兰奇还会给我讲许多神话故事(tale)和有趣的笑话(joke)。
十.A Flying Sail
That summer was a hot one in Boston. Almost every afternoon, I went swimming in a nearby swimming pool with my best friend, Ben Franklin. We loved those long, hot days.
On one pleasant afternoon, Ben was late. I went to his house and climbedupstairstohis small bedroom. He was sitting there making a kite.
“What's with the kite?”I said, “I thought we were going swimming.”
Ben smiled at me and said, “We need the kite for swimming.”
“Who goes swimming with a kite?”I asked.
“I do,”Ben said.His blue eyes were shining.
With such a clever friend, I gotusedto hearing crazyideas.I just shook my head, “I'd like to see how you do it.”
Half an hour later, we were standing on the bank of the pool.Ben held his crazy kite in one hand and a log(圆木) in the other.He sat on the bank, took off his shoes, and tied the end of the kite threadto his foot.Then he flew the kite into the air and let the wind catch it.The kite rose over the swimming pool.
“This is fantastic!“I shouted.
Ben smiled at me andjumpedinto the pool.He threw one arm over his log，leaned(倚靠) back, and let the kite pullhim acrossthe pool.
“Oh, I get it ! “I cried，“It's a flying sail!”
【汉语翻译】
飞航
在波士顿那个炎热的夏季，几乎每天下午，我都和最好的朋友本·富兰克林去附近的一个泳池(swimming pool)游泳。我们热爱那些漫长炎热的夏日。
在一个宜人的午后，本来迟了。我就去了他家，爬上楼(climb upstairs)来到他的小卧室(bedroom)。他正坐在那儿做一个风筝(kite)。
“用这个风筝干什么？”我说，“我本以为我们要去游泳的。”
本对我笑了笑说，“我们需要这个风筝去游泳。”
“谁会带着个风筝去游泳呢？”我问道。
“我会，”本说，他蓝色的眼睛闪闪发亮(shine)。
有这么一个聪明的朋友，我习惯于(get used to)听到疯狂的(crazy)想法。我只是摇摇头(shake)，说，“我倒想看看你怎么做。”
半个小时后，我们来到了泳池的岸边(bank)。本一只手抓着他那荒唐的风筝，另一只手拿着根圆木。他坐在岸边，脱掉衣服，然后把风筝线(thread)的一端系在一只脚上。然后他把风筝放飞，让风带动它。风筝在泳池上空升起(rise)。
“这太棒了(fantastic)!”我大喊道。
本对我笑着，然后跳进(jump into)泳池。他一只胳膊抱着他的圆木，向后仰着，让风筝拉着(pull)他游过泳池。
“噢，我明白了！”大叫道，“这是一次飞航！”
