A Tortoise and a Monkey

(It’s a sunny day. Tortoise is walking, he wants to swim in water. At the bank(岸) of a river, he comes across Monkey.)

Tortoise: Hello, Mr Monkey!

Monkey: Oh, nice to meet you, Mr Tortoise. What are you going to do?

Tortoise: There is a beautiful river. I’m going to swim.

Monkey: Oh! It sounds great. I’d like to go with you.

Tortoise: Wonderful! Let’s go.

(Tortoise and Monkey enjoy themselves in the river. Suddenly, Tortoise finds a banana tree floating in the water. He swims toward the tree quickly.)

Tortoise: I’ll take it to the bank. I’ll plant it near my house. But it is too heavy. Mr Monkey, please help me.

Monkey: Oh, it’s a big banana tree.

Tortoise: Let’s pull the tree to the bank.

Monkey: Oh, but you must give me a half of the tree.

Tortoise: En... OK.

(Soon, they get the tree to the bank. Monkey cuts the tree into two parts at once.)

Monkey: I’ll take the crown (树冠) to my house and plant it.

Tortoise: All right. I’ll take the other part to my house.

(Monkey plants the tree in the place. Later, the tree dies. But Tortoise’s tree is alive. The next year, Tortoise’s tree bears many bananas.)

Tortoise: I want to have some bananas. But it’s too high. I can’t touch it.

Monkey: Mr Tortoise, I can help you.

(Monkey climbs the tree quickly. And soon Monkey is full. But Tortoise has none. Tortoise is very sad. When Monkey comes down, he sees a group of ants. They don’t like Monkey.)

    Ants: Animals are good friends. You shouldn’t cheat. What a shame of you! You should say sorry to Tortoise.

Monkey: Mr Tortoise, I’m sorry. I’ll help you pick the bananas.

Tortoise: That’s all right.

   Ants: Come on, Monkey! Climb! Climb! Climb! We are all friends. Let’s pick the bananas with Tortoise!

责任编辑:学生英语报