开口英语

Lesson 39 Homesickness

After my graduation, I went to Beijing to further my studies. I lived there for three years. At first, I was happy, but later, I was frustrated and depressed. I was homesick all the time. Although the people were friendly, I missed my family, my friends and the lifestyle in my hometown.

乡愁
我毕业后便到北京深造。我在那儿住了三年。起先我很快乐，但后来我便感到泄气、沮丧。我一直都很想家。虽然那里的人们都很友善，但找还是想念在故乡的家人、朋友以及生活方式。

Lesson 38 Nobody Answered the Phone

Jay and Rita are brother and sister.
Rita: Hi, Jay, where did you go last night?
Jay : I stayed home.
Rita: But I called you many times. Nobody answered the phone.
Jay : That's impossible.
Rita: Oh! Mom probably forgot to pay the phone bill again.

没人接电话
杰伊和丽塔是兄妹。
丽塔：嗨，杰伊，你昨晚到哪儿去了?
杰伊：我待在家里。
丽塔：但是我打了好几次电话给你。没人接电话。
杰伊：不可能。
丽塔：哦! 妈可能又忘了付电话费了。

The Donkey in the Lion’s Skin 披着狮皮的驴子

A Donkey is walking through the forest one day. He is feeling sad because the other animals always tease him.
Donkey: I look too weak. A lion looks very strong.
I wash I were a Lion.
Then the other animals wouldn’t tease me anymore.

The Donkey keeps talking to himself while walking. Then he steps on something. He stops to look.
Donkey: Oh my goodness! It’s a Lion！
Please don’t kill me, Mr. Lion.
My meat is no good. I will be your slave.
Please! Please! Please!
Just this once, don’t kill me!

The Donkey closes his eyes in fright and is shaking all over. But there is no answer from the Lion. The Donkey becomes curious and carefully opens his eyes. The Lion is still there, but it does not move at all. The Donkey steps closer to the Lion.
Donkey: Hey, it’s just a Lion’s skin.
Jeez! Thank goodness!
But who left it here?
Oh, that’s not important.
Let me see.
The Donkey looks at the Lion’s skin carefully.
Donkey: It has a head, a body, legs, and a tail.
It has everything.
It even has paws and sharp teeth.
It looks real. This is fantastic!
I will try it on.

The Donkey puts on the Lion’s skin and goes to a nearby pond to look into the water.
Donkey: Wow! I look like a real Lion.
What can I do with this?

Just then, a Rabbit comes to the pond to drink water. He sees the Donkey in the Lion’s skin.
Rabbit: Eeek!! It’s a Lion!
Run! Run! Run for your life!

The Donkey sees the Rabbit run away. It looks very funny.
Donkey: The Rabbit thinks I am a Lion.
Ha! Ha！ Ha!
I’ve got a good idea and
trick all of the other animals, too.
This is going to be so much fun.
I can’t wait!

The Donkey is very excited. He puts on the Lion’s skin and walks around the forest.
Donkey: There is a Goat.
Let’s see if it works again.
I will go over to the Goat.
I will pat his shoulders.

The Donkey pats the Goat on the shoulder.
Goat: Yes, who is it? Ah… It’s a Lion!
Run everyone！
A Lion is in our forest! Run! Run!
Donkey: Ha! Ha! Ha! It worked again.
Look at the Goat! Look at him run!
He looks so silly.

The Donkey is very satisfied. He wants to have more fun.
Donkey: Who shall I scare this time?
Ah ha! There goes a Pig.
I will try it on him. Uh hum…
Pig: Oink, oink! It’s a Lion！
Everyone, run for your life!
Donkey: Ah ha ha！ This is fun.
They are really scared of me.

The Donkey goes around the forest all day long scaring all the animals there. Then he sees a Fox taking a nap under a tree.
Donkey: There you are, Fox!
You tricked me many times.
I don’t like you.
This time I will trick you.

The Donkey sneezes on purpose.
Donkey: Achoo!
Fox: Who is that? Be quiet! I am resting.
Donkey: Uh hum…

The Fox opens his eyes.
Fox: A Lion! Oh my goodness!
Don’t kill me, Mr. Lion!
I will do anything for you.
Please, don’t kill me. Boo-hoo-hoo.

The Donkey opens the Lion’s mouth. The Fox sees the sharp teeth inside and runs away quickly.
Fox: Help! Help! Help!
Donkey: Look at the Fox run! Ha! Ha! Ha!
I can’t stop laughing! He looks so silly!
The Donkey fooled a lot of animals just by wearing the Lion’s skin, but it is still not enough.
Donkey: This is getting boring.
How can I make them more scared?
Ah ha! I get it! I’ll roar like a Lion!

The Donkey tries to roar like a Lion, but it doesn’t sound right. But, the Donkey thinks it sounds like a Lion’s roar.
Donkey: Ha, ha!
Here come those silly animals again.
I will make a Lion’s roar.
They will be really scared this time.

The Rabbit, Goat, Pig, and Fox appear. They are talking about the Lion.
Goat: I saw a Lion today.
It was so big and scary.
Pig: Yes, I saw him too. It looked mean.
I was so scared.
Fox: I was almost caught.
Rabbit: Hey, there comes the Lion again!
Let’s run away! Run!

Just as the animals are about to run away, the Donkey roars.
Donkey: Hee-haw! Hee-haw!
I am the king of all animals!
I will eat all of you! Hee-haw! Hee-haw!

The Donkey keeps roaring, but it sounds like a Donkey’s cry.
Rabbit: Hey, wait! That roar sounds strange.
Goat: That doesn’t sound like a Lion’s roar.
Pig: Then whose is it?
Fox: I know! That’s the Donkey’s cry!

Just then a strong wind blows, and Lion’s skin blows off the Donkey.
Donkey: Oh no! What shall I do?
Rabbit: Look! It’s the Donkey!
Goat: Yes! It was the Donkey in the Lion’s skin!
Pig: He tricked us all! We were all fooled!
Fox: Wait there, you Donkey! We’re going to…
Donkey: Please, forgive me…

All of the animals run after the Donkey and give him a hard kick. The Donkey regrets wearing the Lion’s skin.


MORAL
Don’t make a fool of yourself by pretending to be someone else.

The Donkey in the Lion’s Skin 披着狮皮的驴子

A Donkey is walking through the forest one day. He is feeling sad because the other animals always tease him.
Donkey: I look too weak. A lion looks very strong.
I wash I were a Lion.
Then the other animals wouldn’t tease me anymore.

The Donkey keeps talking to himself while walking. Then he steps on something. He stops to look.
Donkey: Oh my goodness! It’s a Lion！
Please don’t kill me, Mr. Lion.
My meat is no good. I will be your slave.
Please! Please! Please!
Just this once, don’t kill me!

The Donkey closes his eyes in fright and is shaking all over. But there is no answer from the Lion. The Donkey becomes curious and carefully opens his eyes. The Lion is still there, but it does not move at all. The Donkey steps closer to the Lion.
Donkey: Hey, it’s just a Lion’s skin.
Jeez! Thank goodness!
But who left it here?
Oh, that’s not important.
Let me see.
The Donkey looks at the Lion’s skin carefully.
Donkey: It has a head, a body, legs, and a tail.
It has everything.
It even has paws and sharp teeth.
It looks real. This is fantastic!
I will try it on.

The Donkey puts on the Lion’s skin and goes to a nearby pond to look into the water.
Donkey: Wow! I look like a real Lion.
What can I do with this?

Just then, a Rabbit comes to the pond to drink water. He sees the Donkey in the Lion’s skin.
Rabbit: Eeek!! It’s a Lion!
Run! Run! Run for your life!

The Donkey sees the Rabbit run away. It looks very funny.
Donkey: The Rabbit thinks I am a Lion.
Ha! Ha！ Ha!
I’ve got a good idea and
trick all of the other animals, too.
This is going to be so much fun.
I can’t wait!

The Donkey is very excited. He puts on the Lion’s skin and walks around the forest.
Donkey: There is a Goat.
Let’s see if it works again.
I will go over to the Goat.
I will pat his shoulders.

The Donkey pats the Goat on the shoulder.
Goat: Yes, who is it? Ah… It’s a Lion!
Run everyone！
A Lion is in our forest! Run! Run!
Donkey: Ha! Ha! Ha! It worked again.
Look at the Goat! Look at him run!
He looks so silly.

The Donkey is very satisfied. He wants to have more fun.
Donkey: Who shall I scare this time?
Ah ha! There goes a Pig.
I will try it on him. Uh hum…
Pig: Oink, oink! It’s a Lion！
Everyone, run for your life!
Donkey: Ah ha ha！ This is fun.
They are really scared of me.

The Donkey goes around the forest all day long scaring all the animals there. Then he sees a Fox taking a nap under a tree.
Donkey: There you are, Fox!
You tricked me many times.
I don’t like you.
This time I will trick you.

The Donkey sneezes on purpose.
Donkey: Achoo!
Fox: Who is that? Be quiet! I am resting.
Donkey: Uh hum…

The Fox opens his eyes.
Fox: A Lion! Oh my goodness!
Don’t kill me, Mr. Lion!
I will do anything for you.
Please, don’t kill me. Boo-hoo-hoo.

The Donkey opens the Lion’s mouth. The Fox sees the sharp teeth inside and runs away quickly.
Fox: Help! Help! Help!
Donkey: Look at the Fox run! Ha! Ha! Ha!
I can’t stop laughing! He looks so silly!
The Donkey fooled a lot of animals just by wearing the Lion’s skin, but it is still not enough.
Donkey: This is getting boring.
How can I make them more scared?
Ah ha! I get it! I’ll roar like a Lion!

The Donkey tries to roar like a Lion, but it doesn’t sound right. But, the Donkey thinks it sounds like a Lion’s roar.
Donkey: Ha, ha!
Here come those silly animals again.
I will make a Lion’s roar.
They will be really scared this time.

The Rabbit, Goat, Pig, and Fox appear. They are talking about the Lion.
Goat: I saw a Lion today.
It was so big and scary.
Pig: Yes, I saw him too. It looked mean.
I was so scared.
Fox: I was almost caught.
Rabbit: Hey, there comes the Lion again!
Let’s run away! Run!

Just as the animals are about to run away, the Donkey roars.
Donkey: Hee-haw! Hee-haw!
I am the king of all animals!
I will eat all of you! Hee-haw! Hee-haw!

The Donkey keeps roaring, but it sounds like a Donkey’s cry.
Rabbit: Hey, wait! That roar sounds strange.
Goat: That doesn’t sound like a Lion’s roar.
Pig: Then whose is it?
Fox: I know! That’s the Donkey’s cry!

Just then a strong wind blows, and Lion’s skin blows off the Donkey.
Donkey: Oh no! What shall I do?
Rabbit: Look! It’s the Donkey!
Goat: Yes! It was the Donkey in the Lion’s skin!
Pig: He tricked us all! We were all fooled!
Fox: Wait there, you Donkey! We’re going to…
Donkey: Please, forgive me…

All of the animals run after the Donkey and give him a hard kick. The Donkey regrets wearing the Lion’s skin.


MORAL
Don’t make a fool of yourself by pretending to be someone else.

Lesson 37 A Wonderful Time

My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time last night. First, I took her to a cozy restaurant for dinner. Then, we went to a concert. Finally, we had some coffee at a nearby cafe. Just before we parted, she gave me a good- night kiss. At that moment, I was on top of the world. And now I'm in love.

美好时光
我和女友昨晚共度了一段美好时光。首先我带她到一家舒适
的餐厅吃晚饭。然后我们就去听演唱会。最后我们在附近的一家
咖啡厅喝点咖啡。就在我们分手前，她给了我一个晚安之吻。就
在那一刻，我飘飘欲仙。现在我恋爱了。

The Rabbit and the Tortoise 龟兔赛跑


It is a bright spring morning. A Tortoise walks by and meets a Rabbit.
Tortoise: Hi there, Mr. Rabbit.
Beautiful day, isn’t it?
Rabbit: Aren’t you “the Slow Tortoise”?

The Tortoise is a little mad, but he doesn’t show it. The Tortoise still tries to be nice to the Rabbit.
Tortoise: Yes, I’m Mr. Tortoise.
I’m happy to meet you.
Let’s be friends.
Rabbit: No, thank you.
I don’t want to be your friend.
Tortoise: How come?
Rabbit: Your legs are too short.
You can’t jump.
And you are too slow.
Tortoise: My legs may be short.
And I may be slow.
But I can still beat you in a race.
Rabbit: Ha!Ha!Ha! That’s funny!
How can you beat me?
I am much faster.
Tortoise: I can beat you for sure.
Rabbit: No, you can’t!
Tortoise: Yes, I can!
Rabbit: No, you can’t!
Tortoise: Yes, I can!
Let’s have a race now.
Then you’ll see.
Rabbit: Now? Okay! Why not?
I will win for sure.
Tortoise: Let’s make a bet.
If I win, you must carry me on your back.
Rabbit: I promise.
But if I win, you must carry me.
Tortoise: Fine.

The other animals in the forest hear about the race and gather to see the Tortoise and the Rabbit run. The race is about to start.
Tortoise: See the mountain top?
Rabbit: Yes.
Tortoise: The first one to reach there, wins.
Okay?
Rabbit: Okay.

The Fox is the starter.
Fox: Stand behind this line.
Are you both ready?
Tortoise: Yes
Rabbit: Me too.
Fox: Okay. I’ll start the race.
One! Two! Three! Go!

The Fox drops the white handkerchief and the race starts.
The Rabbit is very fast and is already way ahead. The tortoise walks very slowly. The other animals are all cheering for the Tortoise. The Fox is worried about the Tortoise.
Fox: Poor Mr. Tortoise.
He will lose for sure.
Goat: How do you know?
Maybe he will win.

The Rabbit is already half way up the mountain. He is out of breath. He stops to look behind.
Rabbit: Where is the Tortoise?
I can’t even see him.
He is too slow for me.
This is too easy.

The Rabbit decides to take a nap before the Tortoise comes.
Rabbit: I am a little tired.
And I have a lot of time.
So, I will take a nap here.

The Rabbit takes a nap. Even though the Tortoise is still far behind, he doesn’t stop or give up. He just walks and walks and walks.
Tortoise: I am tired, but I must go on.
I must win the race.
One, two. One, two.

The Rabbit falls asleep and continues to sleep for hours. The Tortoise is now at the middle of the mountain. He sees the Rabbit sleeping.
Tortoise: It’s Mr. Rabbit!
Why is he sleeping here?
He must be very tired.
I am tired, too.
But I must go on.
One, two. One, two.

The mountain top is not too far away. The Tortoise is almost at the finish line. All the other animals are surprised.
Goat: Look! It’s the Tortoise!
Fox: Where’s the Rabbit?
Goat: Who knows? Come on, Mr. Tortoise!
Go! Go! Go!

The tortoise takes one step, and another step, and another.
Tortoise: One, two. One, two.
I’m almost there.

Just then, the Rabbit wakes up from his nap and is surprised. He realizes that he has slept too long. He sees the Tortoise near the mountain top. He runs, and runs, and runs, but it’s no use.
Rabbit: Faster! Faster! I must run faster!

Finally, the Tortoise reaches the mountain top first and wins the race.
Goat: Hooray! Hooray for Mr. Tortoise!
Fox: Congratulations, Mr. Tortoise!
You won the race!
Tortoise: Thank you, thank you, everyone!

The Rabbit is too late. He feels ashamed.
Rabbit: Oh, no! I lost.
Now I have to carry the Tortoise on my back.

The Rabbit goes to shake hands with the Tortoise.
Rabbit: Good race. Congratulations, Mr. Tortoise.
You won the race.
Tortoise: I told you, I would win.
Rabbit: But how did you do it?
Tortoise: It wasn’t too hard.
Just take one step after another.
It may be slow,
but you will get there for sure.
Rabbit: Oh…Now, I will keep my promise.
Climb up on my back.
Tortoise: That’s okay.
Let’s just be friends.

MORAL
Talent is of no use without effort.

Lesson 37 A Wonderful Time

My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time last night. First, I took her to a cozy restaurant for dinner. Then, we went to a concert. Finally, we had some coffee at a nearby cafe. Just before we parted, she gave me a good- night kiss. At that moment, I was on top of the world. And now I'm in love.

美好时光
我和女友昨晚共度了一段美好时光。首先我带她到一家舒适
的餐厅吃晚饭。然后我们就去听演唱会。最后我们在附近的一家
咖啡厅喝点咖啡。就在我们分手前，她给了我一个晚安之吻。就
在那一刻，我飘飘欲仙。现在我恋爱了。

The Rabbit and the Tortoise 龟兔赛跑


It is a bright spring morning. A Tortoise walks by and meets a Rabbit.
Tortoise: Hi there, Mr. Rabbit.
Beautiful day, isn’t it?
Rabbit: Aren’t you “the Slow Tortoise”?

The Tortoise is a little mad, but he doesn’t show it. The Tortoise still tries to be nice to the Rabbit.
Tortoise: Yes, I’m Mr. Tortoise.
I’m happy to meet you.
Let’s be friends.
Rabbit: No, thank you.
I don’t want to be your friend.
Tortoise: How come?
Rabbit: Your legs are too short.
You can’t jump.
And you are too slow.
Tortoise: My legs may be short.
And I may be slow.
But I can still beat you in a race.
Rabbit: Ha!Ha!Ha! That’s funny!
How can you beat me?
I am much faster.
Tortoise: I can beat you for sure.
Rabbit: No, you can’t!
Tortoise: Yes, I can!
Rabbit: No, you can’t!
Tortoise: Yes, I can!
Let’s have a race now.
Then you’ll see.
Rabbit: Now? Okay! Why not?
I will win for sure.
Tortoise: Let’s make a bet.
If I win, you must carry me on your back.
Rabbit: I promise.
But if I win, you must carry me.
Tortoise: Fine.

The other animals in the forest hear about the race and gather to see the Tortoise and the Rabbit run. The race is about to start.
Tortoise: See the mountain top?
Rabbit: Yes.
Tortoise: The first one to reach there, wins.
Okay?
Rabbit: Okay.

The Fox is the starter.
Fox: Stand behind this line.
Are you both ready?
Tortoise: Yes
Rabbit: Me too.
Fox: Okay. I’ll start the race.
One! Two! Three! Go!

The Fox drops the white handkerchief and the race starts.
The Rabbit is very fast and is already way ahead. The tortoise walks very slowly. The other animals are all cheering for the Tortoise. The Fox is worried about the Tortoise.
Fox: Poor Mr. Tortoise.
He will lose for sure.
Goat: How do you know?
Maybe he will win.

The Rabbit is already half way up the mountain. He is out of breath. He stops to look behind.
Rabbit: Where is the Tortoise?
I can’t even see him.
He is too slow for me.
This is too easy.

The Rabbit decides to take a nap before the Tortoise comes.
Rabbit: I am a little tired.
And I have a lot of time.
So, I will take a nap here.

The Rabbit takes a nap. Even though the Tortoise is still far behind, he doesn’t stop or give up. He just walks and walks and walks.
Tortoise: I am tired, but I must go on.
I must win the race.
One, two. One, two.

The Rabbit falls asleep and continues to sleep for hours. The Tortoise is now at the middle of the mountain. He sees the Rabbit sleeping.
Tortoise: It’s Mr. Rabbit!
Why is he sleeping here?
He must be very tired.
I am tired, too.
But I must go on.
One, two. One, two.

The mountain top is not too far away. The Tortoise is almost at the finish line. All the other animals are surprised.
Goat: Look! It’s the Tortoise!
Fox: Where’s the Rabbit?
Goat: Who knows? Come on, Mr. Tortoise!
Go! Go! Go!

The tortoise takes one step, and another step, and another.
Tortoise: One, two. One, two.
I’m almost there.

Just then, the Rabbit wakes up from his nap and is surprised. He realizes that he has slept too long. He sees the Tortoise near the mountain top. He runs, and runs, and runs, but it’s no use.
Rabbit: Faster! Faster! I must run faster!

Finally, the Tortoise reaches the mountain top first and wins the race.
Goat: Hooray! Hooray for Mr. Tortoise!
Fox: Congratulations, Mr. Tortoise!
You won the race!
Tortoise: Thank you, thank you, everyone!

The Rabbit is too late. He feels ashamed.
Rabbit: Oh, no! I lost.
Now I have to carry the Tortoise on my back.

The Rabbit goes to shake hands with the Tortoise.
Rabbit: Good race. Congratulations, Mr. Tortoise.
You won the race.
Tortoise: I told you, I would win.
Rabbit: But how did you do it?
Tortoise: It wasn’t too hard.
Just take one step after another.
It may be slow,
but you will get there for sure.
Rabbit: Oh…Now, I will keep my promise.
Climb up on my back.
Tortoise: That’s okay.
Let’s just be friends.

MORAL
Talent is of no use without effort.

Lesson 36 A Lot of Bills
Al : Do you have any money with you?
Sue: Not much. Why?
A1 : I need to borrow some.
Sue: What's the matter?
A1 : I have a lot of bills to pay this month.

许多帐单
艾尔：你身上带钱了吗?
苏 ：我带的不多。干嘛问这个?
艾尔：我需要借点钱。
苏 ：怎么回事?
艾尔：这个月我有许多帐单要付。

Lesson 36 A Lot of Bills
Al : Do you have any money with you?
Sue: Not much. Why?
A1 : I need to borrow some.
Sue: What's the matter?
A1 : I have a lot of bills to pay this month.

许多帐单
艾尔：你身上带钱了吗?
苏 ：我带的不多。干嘛问这个?
艾尔：我需要借点钱。
苏 ：怎么回事?
艾尔：这个月我有许多帐单要付。