The Wild Boar and the Fox

    A wild boar was whetting² his tusks³ against a tree，when a fox passing by asked why he did so．“For，”said he，“I see no reason for it；there is neither a hunter nor a hound in sight，nor any other danger that I can see at hand．”“True，”replied the boar，“but when a danger does arise，I shall have something else to do rather than sharpen my weapons．”
    It is too late to whet¹ the sword when the trumpet⁴ sounds to draw it．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ①A wild boar was whetting his tusks because there was some danger around him．②A fox thought there was no reason for the wild boar to dothat．③A wild boar should have something else to do rather than sharpen his weapons．④It is not late to whet the sword when the trumpet sounds to draw it．

1 whet   

v.磨快，刺激

参考例句：

• I've read only the fIrst few pages of her book,but It was enough to whet my appetIte.她的书我只看了开头几页，但已经引起我极大的兴趣。
• A really good catalogue can also whet customers' appetites for merchandise.一份真正好的商品目录也可以激起顾客购买的欲望。

2 whetting   

v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的现在分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等）

参考例句：

• A battle is coming; the two armies are whetting their swords. 两兵就要交战了，双方都在磨刀霍霍地备战。 来自互联网
• The smell is really whetting my appetite. 这味道真吊胃口。 来自互联网

3 tusks   

n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头

参考例句：

• The elephants are poached for their tusks. 为获取象牙而偷猎大象。
• Elephant tusks, monkey tails and salt were used in some parts of Africa. 非洲的一些地区则使用象牙、猴尾和盐。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

4 trumpet   

n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘

参考例句：

• He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
• The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。