The Disobedient Donkey

    The Disobedient Donkey
There was once a donkey who never did what he was told to．If his master wanted him to go to right he pulled to left．If his master wanted him to go to left he pulled to right．In fact he always wanted to do exactly the opposite to what his master said．It happened that one day the donkey was being driven along a twisty rack up a high mountain side．All of a sudden he decided¹ that he did not want to stay on the path and he made off as fast as he could towards the edge，where the mountain fell steeply away．The donkey was just about to fall head－first over the edge of the cliff when his master caught him by the tail．“Come back，you stupid animal，”said his master，pulling his tail and backing away up the slope towards the path．“Come this way or you will fall．”
    “This way，this way，”said the donkey stubbornly，pulling away from the man．“I don't want to go that way．”
    He pulled so hard that the man was forced to let go．The man sat down with a bump on the grass，and the donkey plunged² braying³ with triumph over the edge of the cliff．There is no point being stubborn just for the sake of it．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ① The donkey was very stubborn．② At last the donkey died of his stubbornness．

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

3 braying   

v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的现在分词 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击

参考例句：

• A donkey was braying on the hill behind the house. 房子后面的山上传来驴叫声。 来自互联网
• What's the use of her braying out such words? 她粗声粗气地说这种话有什么用呢？ 来自互联网